Checked 8 of my trees most of them were Panache, and yup, the roots were damaged with RKN (root knot nematode)....google says they are microscopic worms that get into the roots.  The trees are in 15 gall pots.....so I decided to try to air-layer them to save them.

Wow! I feel sorry for you.
Can you post a close up photo of the knots and roots?

There are different RKN were these in the soil before you planted the figs?  Hope the RKN are not a threat to you other plants.

Will post photos in a little bit, got to jump into the shower...LOL     I used the soil from my Mom's house, she has lots of citrus trees, and I read, not sure that they come from the citrus trees.  Probably affects the tree a little bit, but with figs, its a killer.  Will be back in a few minutes, don't change the channel...LOL

Found on the forum a photo that shows the RKN........http://figs4funforum.websitetoolbox.com/post?id=6415064
 

Armando...that was a fast shower!!!

Trying to conserve water....LOL    I take longer showers on Holidays....LOL

RKN is prevalent in sandy soils.  It doesn't like high organic content soils. 

Armando you should destroy the soil, or return to where it came. 

I am putting the soil in a black plastic bag and letting the hot temps kill any left over RKN...... I can microwave it to or just throw it away, what does everyone think.

Make sure your layers are high enough to not get splashed when you are watering the container. Once you remove the layers, throw the rest away.

Thanks James, Will do a couple of air-layers per tree. Want to up the odds...LOL    I read on the internet (don't trust everything on the internet....LOL) that heating up the soil above 120 degrees will kill the RKN.

Um, Bon Jour Armando.

If it is on the internet, it must be true.

It might have been some of my postings you are referring to.  I posted some results of experiments I did with heat treating RKN+ trees.  I think it was long enough ago that they've fallen off the Gardenweb radar.  You can kill the nematodes in the soil with heat.  The biggest problem I see with remedying RKN is containment.  RKN's normal movement is measured in a few inches (if that) each year.  There primary mode of travel is rain, wind and human contact (shoes, clothes, tools, etc.)  If you try to dump the soil from your containers into a bag, you run the risk of spreading RKN throughout your property.  Unless the growing mix is super valuable, I'm not sure I'd take the chance.  I had a burn area in a ditch on the far side of the property where I would remove growing mixes from containers.  The best remedy is prevention.

BTW.  I am not really a French model.  I just play one on the internet.

Thank you James, I brought this subject up, for advice and hoped it would help out the newbies. (so it was your postings I was reading on the web...LOL)

Good subject to reed about thanks guys. I am glad RKN it is not in my garden.

My property is "infested" with wild mustard. Every year it sprouts up and makes thick, weedy brush throughout my orchard. I decided to research wild mustard to see if it has any benefits. It turns out that it makes deep tap roots that draw minerals from down deep. It also fixes some nitrogen in the soil. Finally, it helps to control RKN!!! My wife hates it and thinks it looks messy, but I beg her to let them live as long as possible before she destroys them with the weed whacker. Maybe, just as a precaution, spread some wild mustard seeds around?

RKN solution?

https://www.bayercropscience.us/products/seed-treatments/poncho-votivo/nematodes/?WT.mc_id=y7600103e47&WT.srch=1&WT.tsrc=ppc

Sounds to me that if you grow in high organic media there won't be a problem. Amend soil with peat manure etc...

see  Soil Amendments and Irrigation section

http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/pn7489.html#MANAGEMENT

If you get the right nematodes they will kill the bad ones and help the soil, they also kill fungus gnat larva...

Thanks for the info Rich......Paul, will look into mustard seeds.......Thanks Gloria, Moonlight and Dave.....It seems easier to throw away the soil, the other one that has a great mix, I will probably microwave for 2 minutes (twice...LOL) and then place in a black plastic bag and let the sun heat it up more.

Crab shell meal is supposed to help.

Mike in Hanover, VA