I think we should have a post where people post where they are getting trees from that show no signs of FMV.

Here's what i've mail ordered that's FMV free

Hardy Chicago - Easytogrowbulbs
Celeste - Martha's Secrets
Flatbush Light and Dark - Flatbush Fig Farm

Please add to the list. I think it will help growers find places that sell healthy trees

Such list may be useful but can become misleading over time since the no-FMV status claim cannot be carried over fom years to years. To maintain such status will require frequesnt independent "no-FMV" audit.

Tim
Heres the problem. All figs have it. Just different strains of fmv. A plant with fmv from Europe can out not show signs of fmv in our area but the same plant from California may not grow at all here. I have plants from France that have shown it but out grow it and plants from Cali or ucd that haven't grown a 6 inches in 2 seasons.   

Dan- as an example I have a Florea that is infested with FMV. If you look at Herman's large Florea tree it's clean as a whistle. Are you saying that it will grow out of it? I will change the title to "show no effects from" but to your point you can get two totally different plants that are the same, one being totally garbage vs one that handles it well.  

I would also add that Herman seems to feel his trees are FMV free

I think the FMV is carried by insects, and if you plant a FMV tree within 10 miles of an infected tree, your tree is bound to be infected sooner or later.  I absolutely know which insect carries the virus here where I live, because it's on every living plant everywhere.  Spider mites!  Easily destroyed by a strong spray of water, but they are sucking evil creatures, and must be controlled.
Suzi

Suzi,

Not the case for northern growers. I've asked Herman in another postands short of using the same clippers on all of your plants it won't spread up here

Tim
Yours could out grow it this year but it will always be in your plant. How old is your floria? Pump it with som nitrogen full quick feetalizer. Not a slow release. In the spring and pump it good. It should out grow out of it. It's almost august when we get our growth spurt. See what happens in sept. 

I'll put some granular starter fertilizer on it. It's about the only way to get nitrogen fertilizer these days. 

Good post Celt , some may not realize an fmv plant has the virus in the cell structure of the plant and although it can hide which i have seen thru out the years its there .

Tim, I'm not even sure using the same clippers would do it. I recently spoke with Herman about this very topic and he didn't seem to think that would transfer fmv either, but it's probably a good idea to clean them after using them in a plant. 

I had read a white paper from uc Davis that said shears were a vehicle and they should be sanitized in a week bleach solution before cutting another tree. If you read the UC Davis webpage they actually recommend against propagating FMV infected trees

Funny HA HA

"Read the UC Davis webpage they actually recommend against propagating FMV infected trees "

Seems like that is the only cutting they will send you...HAHAHA

__________________

http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/r261100611.html

"

Before they are added to your list.  Ask them if they guarantee their plants to be free of FMV. Makes for a shorter list.  

reality is almost all fig trees in trade are infected with FMV. even the ones that does not show the FMV will show it sooner or later. good example is my Kathleen's Black. the tree that i have rarely show FMV, however, when i get the cutting to root, it will start showing it as soon as it puts out the leaves.

my VdB also doesn't show it too much, but the cuttings from that trees shows FMV.

if you think you have FMV free tree, try getting cutting to root and see if the new leaves coming out has FMV on it. FMV might get triggered under stress, like human herpies virus (cold sore).

Great thread.
Mostly conjecture.
Not enough science to back up anecdotal opinions.
Observation, and/or consensus, is not science.
If nothing else....interesting reading.

Frank


However, I am inclined to believe trees growing in colder climates are clean, and FMV-free.  I have never seen a diseased fig tree in either The Bronx, Westchester, NY...Astoria, Queens...Brooklyn, and surrounding areas.  Honestly, until a few years ago, I didn't even know fig trees could get diseased.  I learned about FMV from the fig forums and by looking at posted pictures of diseased trees.  I look for FMV every time I see a fig tree growing in my area...I see nothing but clean, healthy, growth.  IF the trees are diseased, they do a great job at suppressing any visible symptoms.