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Questions about the FMV

Does the FMV vary from a year to a year? Meaning, if the the fig is heavily affected this year, will it be the same situation the next year?
What are your the worst varieties with the FMV this season?
For me a Marylane Seedless from UCD and Stella that I received from Petals. The leaves look like covered by dirty snow :( , top to bottom.

Speaking of the leaves. If a fig just got some FMV and only 1-2 leaves are showing discoloration, will the virus slow down if I remove the affected leaves? Or it goes into the fig's blood and the removal of some selected leaves does not matter?


Wow! Saturday is a busy day here on the forum!
I posted less an hour ago and my post is at bottom already.
I say...

In my observations it varies year to year, but if it is really badly affect with twisted and contorted leaves it will always show virus and take a lot of care to grow, if you let the suckers come up from the roots they usually are very healthy, but not always.  My Black Mission that I got rid of, it would always look like leopard spots on the leaves but this spring it was dark green beautiful leaves then later the spots came back, the trees are growing very strong but just spots.

FMV is systemic, throughout the plant. Plucking leaves will do nothing but remove leaves. Most plants get stronger as they get older and the signs of FMV diminish, but it will increase during times of stress.

Some UCD plants are believed to have a "cocktail of Mosaic viruses" making them more weakened. But some do just fine. Use the search in the top right and you can read about it for hours.

Be sure to always clean your pruning tools well with bleach or heat between plants so you don't spread different viruses from plant to plant. I personally wouldn't put a plant that looks healthy next to plant with severe FMV. But I also won't keep a plant with severe FMV, that's how I rolls.

greenfig,
If a tree is infected with FMV, It will always be infected, its on a cellular level. As the tree matures, with proper cultural practice and balanced fertilizer, the disease will be less evident unless it is severely infected with the worst cocktail of viruses. If you do a forum search for FMV there has been lots of topics and discussions. For me VDB and Petite Negri have the most visible FMD symptoms.

I've purchased every available cultivar from Petals from the Past this year and last year, and none have shown any visible symptoms of FMD, although they did not have any Stella. Could you please post a picture of the leaves? I did purchase Stella from Almost Eden, and the leaves are completely clean. Some Fig Mosaic Disease (FMD) symptoms can be traced to nutrient deficiency or other disease not necessarily the Fig Mosaic Virus (FMV).

<edit> One simple way to check if its deficiency or FMD (on symmetrical leaves with light spots) is to use a foliar fertilizer spray (9-3-6 NPK and micro nutrients) for 2 to 3 weeks (or use Miracle Grow general purpose fertilizer @ 1 teaspoon per gallon as a foliar spray) in addition to your regular fertilizer regimen. If the leaves green up and have no visible thickness difference at the end of that time (especially with back lighting), its probably nutrient deficiency.

Note the growing media or potting mix always needs a balance of Macro and Micro nutrients in addition to a PH within a normal range (6-8).

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Thank you, guys, for the recommendations.
I mistakenly specified the wrong nursery, the Stella came from One Green World. Sorry about that.
I will take some pics later today and post them.

Pete,
Please see mine attached. 
Marylane with the wider leaves is covered by a FMV but it seems not affecting the growth. 
Stella's FMV is not that prominent but very visible at night, when the sun is not very bright.

I use the the Foliage Pro foliar fertilizer spray about twice a week, plus the soil has a lot of compost.
I dont think the problem is a deficiency. 

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greenfig,
Thanks for the pictures.
In post #3 Chivas wrote

Quote:
if you let the suckers come up from the roots they usually are very healthy, but not always

I have found this to be the case with a VDB sucker that was separated from the roots of the mother tree this past winter. It is now 1 year old, and still has not shown any visible signs of FMD. It is currently producing figlets, but they will all have to be removed, its too late in the season for them to ripen.




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Pete,

Beautiful photos!
If the FMV is propagated by the insects, why the suckers are clean while the mother tree is infected?..
Wouldn't be the case of eventually infecting ALL the tree withing a short range? 

In my case, I don't have any large suckers yet, so I cannot confirm or deny the statement, the time will show.

greenfig,
Thanks.
There are no fig mites in the northeast, unless imported with the fig plants (they cannot overwinter). I usually dust with Food grade Diatomaceous Earth, which stops most chewing insects that may possibly spread the virus.

Just as a note, the sucker came from a root not the main trunk, I plan on air layering the top and cutting back the mother tree this winter to see if I can duplicate the sucker.

I see. So what works in NY may not work for me in California then :(
Unless, of course, we have a NY winter ... in which case the figs would be the least of a problem :D


Quote:
Originally Posted by ascpete
greenfig,
Thanks for the pictures.
In post #3 Chivas wrote
Quote:
if you let the suckers come up from the roots they usually are very healthy, but not always

I have found this to be the case with a VDB sucker that was separated from the roots of the mother tree this past winter. It is now 1 year old, and still has not shown any visible signs of FMD. It is currently producing figlets, but they will all have to be removed, its too late in the season for them to ripen.






I had a similiar experience with RDB. I'm not entirely sure it was FMV as the leaves were very small and unhealthy looking. A sucker came up and is growing like a weed with healthy looking larger leaves.

GOT SOME SUPPOSEDLY VIRUS FREE TISSUE CULTURED TREES FROM FLORIDA HILL. oop, caps, sorry.

these are very poor, sickly plants that I doubt i'll ever move  outdoors.

I simply  don't believe these will ever perform as well as trees with a mild case of fmv, I was wrong.

I got a Blue Ischia from Hirt's a few months back (check the forum for "Blue Ischia"). They came small and insignificant :( but now are the largest figs I have.
They were FMV free until recently. On one fig I can see the white spots. That might be a fresh FMV or some nutrient deficiency. I started adding Mg and Ca, will see in a few week if they go away. If not, than the Ischia was infected by some stinky bug ...
Let me take some pics of my plants. will post in a few minutes.

Your plants might be small outside but they most likely have nice roots. That is the most important thing. Repot them and wait a little, I am sure they will grow!

Ok, Susie, here you go. The pot size is 3 gal. See the spots on the leaves.

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yow! thank you very much for showing those markings I really  need that kinda info

I gotta say, the Chicago hardy I got from hirts as a 2'' high little plant with 2 leaves has blossomed into a  beautiful tree. never any markings like those pics, i'm sold on hirts, I do lots of business wiyh them. they send teeny plants, but healthy and vigorous. I was commenting on florida hill. these were bigger, but sickly out of the box.

Hi,

my worst has been Mission, Paradiso bronze, and Negronne...  I should go check..

 They are looking better with new potting mix, larger pots and  more water and sun.

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