For better or worse...

http://naldc.nal.usda.gov/download/47395/PDF

21st International Conference on Virus and other Graft Transmissible Diseases of Fruit Crops
Julius-Kühn-Archiv, 427, 2010 79

New viruses found in fig exhibiting mosaic symptoms

Tzanetakis, I.E.1; Laney, A.G.1; Keller, K.E.2; Martin, R.R.2
1 Department of Plant Pathology, University of Arkansas, Division of Agriculture, Fayetteville, AR, 72701, USA
2 USDA-ARS Horticultural Crops Research Lab. Corvallis, OR, 97330, USA
.
Abstract
Mosaic is the most widespread viral disease of fig, affecting the crop wherever it is grown. The causal agent of the
disease was poorly characterized and until recently it was considered a virus-like agent with double membrane bound
semispherical bodies transmitted by eriophyid mites. During the molecular characterization of the Fig mosaic virus we
discovered two new closteroviruses and a new badnavirus affecting the tree used in our studies. The characterization
and presence of the three new viruses in mosaic-affected plants is the subject of this communication.

Keywords: Fig mosaic, Emaravirus, Closterovirus, Badnavirus

Introduction
Fig mosaic (FM) was first discovered in 1933 [4] and has since been found worldwide. The symptoms vary from tree to
tree ranging from mild mosaic and ringspots to malformation of leaves and tree decline. Double membrane-bound
bodies have been found associated with FM [1, 3], and recently a virus in the genus Emaravirus, Fig mosaic virus, was
proven to be the causal agent of the disease [7, 8, 13]. Other than FMV several other viruses have been found in FM
trees, including clostero-, umbra-, luteo- and cryptic viruses [5, 6, 13]. These discoveries and the symptom range
suggested that FM may be caused by the synergistic effects of several viruses when they co-infect the crop. In the plant
used in our study we discovered three new viruses, two closteroviruses, provisionally named Arkansas fig closterovirus-
1 and -2 (AFCV-1 and 2) and one in the badnavirus named Fig badnavirus-1 (FBV-1). These three viruses are the focus
of this communication.

I think that B. Falk and N. Salem (UC Davis) did a study from 2005 - 2007 that suggested that Fig Mosaic was likely caused by more than one virus, acting in concert.  Closteroviridae RNA (transmitted by aphids) was found to be present in the infected trees, along with RNA suggestions of other viruses.

I've been preaching this at the forum for a minute now.

http://figs4funforum.websitetoolbox.com/post/show_single_post?pid=1269545902&postcount=18

and

http://figs4funforum.websitetoolbox.com/post/show_single_post?pid=1269793263&postcount=19

Are just a couple of posts on that.  I firmly believe that the more serious infections we see are actually caused by multiple viruses attacking.

Cool info Jason.  Are you one of the researchers who has been studying Fig Mosaic?  What I've seen of the papers suggests you're right on... it looks like they even have some understanding of the specific vectors (molecular "attachments") that has them work in concert.

Michael in feb 2009 i showed pictures of my figs leaves highlighted under grow lights
Kalamata Black, Madeira, and Native Argentile.

In this other thread i mention Ucdavis and there findings of symptoms that show in "Leaves" and "Fruit itself".
http://figs4funforum.websitetoolbox.com/post/FMV-Showing-On-Fig-Fruit-4823996?highlight=mosaic+virus

In that same thread Bass posted link from Turkey of study also showing syptoms in the fig fruit itself with pictures that matched my pictures, that link i try to open now but it say it is damaged but picture D in that link at the time matched my fruit in 2 of my tree's.

Perhaps Bass can relink that Turkey study .

Here are those pictures i took down as some of my pictures wound up being used elsewhere without my permission but taken down after i intervened.

FMV on Kalamata Black fruit and same on Pastiliere fruit .
As a note these all particular fruits aborted.

One in particular started to turn and the spots showed thru seen in a almost straight line in the fig if you look carefully at last picture and click on it to enlarge the thumbnail.

UcDavis Ischia Black was my most troubled fmv infected plant to date.
This spring i lost a 4-5 year old and a 4 year old ischia black that i try to replace.
They may have had combination of those viruses mentioned.

I also posted pictures of a squash as its in many veggies as well as tobacco plants as mosaic virus just with differnt abbreviations that correspond to that particular plant.
Example
FMV= Fig Mosaic Virus
TMV = Tobacco Mosaic Virus and causes several percent loss of crop due to the virus .

I wonder if FMV or the fig's adaptations to overcome it may be partially responsible for some of the fig varieties that we have. It's certainly worth musing over.

Martin, thanks.  Guess I should get better about searching the forums before I ask. Looks like you and Jason and Bass and others have already posted lots of info.  (My bad to have not looked it up first).  So thanks for re-posting your photos too.

ToMV is tobacco mosaic virus, TMV is tomatoe mosaic virus.

I have always figured, both from reading posts here and from personal experience (which is very limited compared to many of you) that fmv was a fact of life with fig trees.  That it isn't so much an issue of "if" a treee will show signs, but of "when."

Does anyone who has been actively growing for...say...at least ten years...believe their trees are uninfected?  I mean...if some trees don't actually show signs for many years, one could have seemingly unaffected trees that will show signs at a later point.  

I have ordered plants from three different nurseries, and received cuttings from friends...and many currently show signs.

And I've read posts on the other forum from people who received trees from nurseries who threw them away because they showed signs of the virus.   Is there any point in that?

And even if the virus(es) is (or are) identified...is there any likelyhood of eradicating it?

Mike, FYI, not a researcher.  Everything I'm sharing has evolved from reading research material and witnessing same and different varieties acting similarly and differently to what is purported as "FMV", respectively. 

Confusing, right?

I don't think I have any non-infected trees at this point.  I've had some kind of infection(s) jump from tree to tree (even trees isolated locally) inside my own house where there are no typical vectors (mites) and no usage of any pruning shears or shared soils, much less dirty ones.  Just touching leaves or sharing air space sends [what appear to be] uninfected cuttings spiraling into infectious-like behavior.

There's something else there, something more that isn't known, more than one infection.  It doesn't make sense to blanket everything with FMV when the symptom of same or genetically similar varieties and/or sources have such radically different response.

Thanks Jason.  I agree with you that it doesn't make sense to call every sort of malady "FMV".  Without a plant pathologist though, maybe one armed with a powerful microscope, it could be hard to positively identify.  Even with research, popular usage of the term might take over (kinda like how so many trees are called "brown turkey" that aren't really).  Sounds like the research has picked up a bit in the past decade.  Whether any of the pathogens can be controlled, it'll be interesting to see.

It Doesn't Jump or spread in my Garden,at all.
Due to Cold frosty Winter climate The infec ted trees ,are dead to ground every Spring,and start over or die totally at that point.
The Trees that are not infected,are gaining stronger Branches above ground ,every year.
If I was you In Central NY,I wouldn't be worried about spreading at all.
In My opinion,The Winter condition,kills some viruses from inside tree ,resulting in a healthier fig tree as the plant succesfully live to adulthood.
Of course this does not happen in warm climates.

In Egypt they take it for granted the crop is diminished

http://bio.sophiapublisher.com/html-174-18-mp

2 more RNA sequences

http://vir.sgmjournals.org/content/early/2012/04/12/vir.0.042663-0.abstract

 besides the original 4

http://www.springerlink.com/content/468n03655431gh20/
Other studies
http://www.springerlink.com/content/468n03655431gh20/

I have some trees that show this infection with just a few abnormal looking leaves.  The rest look pretty normal.  Is there any benefit to the tree to remove those leaves?   Not worried about appearance...just thinking of the health of the tree.  Thanx.

If you had a head cold, would it help to cut your head off?  ;)

This could be trivilizing things a bit, but a great deal of viral infections are systemic rather than local, so ...

You should really ask an expert on that one, though.