Peach (Prunus persica L. Batsch.) is one of the most important stone fruit crops grown extensively in the temperate, sub-temperate and subtropical regions of the world. The leaf curl caused by Taphrina deformans (Berk.) Tul. is the most serious disease of peaches which counts for loss in quantitative and qualitative yield. Cool wet weather with intermittent rains favours the development of the disease especially during bud swell to bud opening stage. The effect of different temperature (0-30°C) and relative humidity levels (80.5 -100 per cent) were studied on the germination of blast spores of peach leaf curl fungus Taphrina deformans. It was observed that the per cent germination increased up to 20°C after which a decline in germination per cent was recorded. Maximum germination per cent of 70.73 was observed at 20°C. The germination per cent decreased with decreasing relative humidity maximum (69.05 %) being at 100 per cent relative humidity

Taphrina deformans, temperature, relative humidity, blastospores germination.

For the germination of blastospores optimum temperature and relative humidity was recorded. It was observed that per cent germination increased up to 20ºC after which a decline in germination per cent was recorded. Maximum germination per cent of 70.73% was observed at 20ºC and it was also observed that the germination per cent decreased with decreasing relative humidity. Maximum germination per cent of 69.05% was observed at 100%.

Vinay Kumar Kardam, A.K. Gupta, Arti Shukla and S.K. Sharma (2022). Effect of Different Temperature and Relative Humidity Regimes on the Germination of Blastospores of Taphrina deformans (Berk.) Tul. Biological Forum – An International Journal, 14(2): 607-610.