Can a large detached fig tree root produce a sucker on its own?  I was just wondering when I found one of my trees had grown through the pot and into the soil.

Interesting question. I know that the Crape Myrtle roots can sprout (I am fighting with them every year), so why not a fig?
Can the ability depend on the root caliper/kind?

Great Video Tom, I read on a Guava tree, to go out a foot or two and cut down to separate root from mother tree then you can have some little guava trees to sprout up.
I hope that a little tree shoots up on your experiment. So keep us posted.  Love your video clips, that's how I first learned to propagate cuttings through Tom's youtube clips.

Some years back  i experimented with separated cut thick and thin roots from a fig tree results failed after several tries.
Also tried with a leaf with its stem attached to see if roots would develop along the  stem in water and in mix  - failed.
Next time you root prune fig plant give it shot you have nothing to loose.

Google search =
Some examples of plants that can be propagated from root cuttings include raspberry, blackberry, rose, trumpet vine, phlox, crabapple, fig, lilac, and sumac.

I asked the same question, probably been discussed on several threads. I seems like it would but I have never been successful

http://figs4funforum.websitetoolbox.com/post/root-cutting-propagation-5550499

I forgot to cover it with mulch when the temps went down into the 20's last night but I wonder if the top when exposed to light it has the potential to create cells that photosynthesize.

I tried this about five years ago with two or three trees I root pruned. I don't recall the specifics, so I'll make up what I recall being my approximate success percentage. After sticking my finger in the air, I'll claim a 20% success rate. I probably tried to root 10 or so roots and hit on a couple. I also recall the successful roots tended to be large - at least 1" diameter - and taken close to the base of the tree. This suggests that the portion of the root closest to the surface is where you'll find dormant buds.

These were potted trees, not roots stuck in or coming from the ground.

I've never gotten it to work.  But the roots can survive for years.

I received a clump of Celeste that had been excised from under a huge mother Celeste. This tree was already five feet tall with a one inch caliper trunk. I completely bare rooted it and pulled about ten other fig roots from the mat. I planted all of them and one eventually, after three months, sprouted and lives on. I have not culled the other pots but I think that is probably the only one that will make it. I will add that the roots planted all had small roots attached. I planted them more or less horizontally with just the tip barely above ground.

Not speaking fro experience other than brambles here, but from what has been stated thus far seems to have all the info needed. Llarger roots would have more energy. Roots closer to the trunk and surface would have buds. Think of compleate top winter kill back. How does the tree regrow after being top killed. Resprouts from the roots through buds. So if your root was large enought and had a bud or two I woulld say it should work rather well. If it don't then its another story. But what factors are going to increase sucsess.

i graft other varieties onto the root and leave  it in the ground.  cover with a bottle with no bottom and put a bunch more leaves... it will be warm and good chances to make it.

That is what i did with my little black Madeira...
http://figs4funforum.websitetoolbox.com/post/813-update-black-madeira-uc-davis-6283129
and it is now a foot tall. inside of a 5 gallon clear water bottle with no bottom, and with a thick layer of leaves for insulation... Will find out. I feel it is safer there than if I try to dig it up and bring inside...  it survived so far...

Hi Tom

Thanks for the good video. I had similar large root ball from a HC last year and i packaged it up, potted it, and buried it in leaves over winter. This spring i potted it up as it was looking and feeling very alive, just like last Autumn. I kept it in perfect conditions, shade, water, warm sun -- NTR, nothing all summer long. No branching, no buds, no nothing. From what I've read on this, it's not possible to propagate a new tree from root stock alone.