Bugs.
The only way you can insure you won't get FMV is to stop getting figs and hope what you have does not already have it.

We swap and trade every month here. Most everyone has received cuttings from UC Davis or got cuttings from a member who got their cuttings originally from UC Davis.

FMV is a way of life now with figs. Our trees will either make or not but there is nothing that we can do about it. Except not get more figs.

If you can learn to accept FMV you'll be rewarded with a lot of wonderful figs and new relationships with other forum members.
Welcome.

The likelihood of you getting uninfected cuttings from anyone is slim to none. FMV is just a fact of life in domestic trees, foreign trees, wild trees, etc.

If you want uninfected trees, have one and only one tree for several years, and observe it carefully for symptoms. Even if it has no symptoms, it may still be infected and not show it. When you get your second tree, it will need to be isolated, probably in a screen house, till you are sure it has no symptoms. And so on...

The chances of that first tree be uninfected are nearly zero. I do not beleive that I have received a tree from any nursery that was not infected. USDA, State and local Ag agencies all see this as a non-issue and do not inspect for it, quarantine for it, object to it, make note of it, or anything else.

if you get cuttings from me, they are guaranteed to be infected or to have been exposed. Anyone I have traded with or sold to will be similarly exposed and/or infected. Anyone who has ever received cuttings from USDA/UC Davis is the same situation. Anyone who have ever gotten cuttings form someone who has gotten cuttings from UC Davis, is in the same situation. Anyone who have ever gotten cuttings form someone who got cuttings from someone who has gotten cuttings from UC Davis, is in the same situation. And so on...

Cathy.
That is all I needed to know. I receive cutting from other member this year and

did not want to get any unwanted virus. If it is a way of life with figs, then it the way.

Do you know how long the virus take to spread to a good plant ?
Thanks Bugs

I'm with Cathy and Jon on this one, but I feel compelled to point out something that's probably important....

There are two types of fig collectors out there:  Those who believe infections like RKN or FMV are impossible to avoid and the others who actually believe (or reportedly have) pathogen-free plants. 

I think it's important we all understand newbies probably haven't made this distinction yet and that they don't have all the facts, thus someone needs to bring it up so they actually have a chance to make that decision on their own before diving in face-first on the decision without knowing.  Nothing sucks worse than getting into a hobby and realizing you screwed up on day 1 and can't take it back.

I'm in the "FMV is inevitable" category, and I usually trade and obtain cuttings from sources I know have FMV because I don't care.  I'm not running a nursery, so the appearance of my young trees is not of any consequence.  Even thought I'm of this mindset, especially with newbies, I'm still going to make sure people know very clearly that FMV exists, there is no known cure, there are several other pathogens which infect figs, and many (if not all) seem to multiply in environments like UCD's orchard.

I think it's super important for everyone to grasp that any time you take cuttings from anyone, you risk introducing new pathogens and nuisances into your landscape or orchard.  I am a prime example.  Between two nurseries, I managed to get 5 fig trees that were infected with RKN and I've been fighting with mild RKN ever since, to the point I'm not even comfortable sharing my figs with anyone outside of GA.

I've gotten in the habit of quarantining any plant that shows a single knot on the root (which could realistically even be from the damned potting soil I buy!!).  Unfortunately, this doesn't always work.  Just last week, I had a squirrel jump into my quarantine area, chew their way in, dig in an infected pot, then hop out and dig in part of my main collection.  I don't know if it hit the clean stuff first, then hit the infected stuff or what, so I've got airlayers galore and my quarantine area filling up right now trying to overcome the situation. 

It's an uphill battle - all because I wanted the instant gratification of figs the next year (!!!) and decided that buying from a nursery was the way to get there. (hindsight 20/20; wish I knew then what I know now....)

Anyway, just my 2¢, take it or leave it.

When I got cuttings from UCD about five years ago they came infested (we think it was them) with some type of broad mite that trashed several flats of peppers. I know that the only reported way to pass FMV is mites and grafting. So I have been wondering if the species of mite that does this is only in warm and sunny Cali. My figs have been banned from the greenhouse ever since, but last year I placed peppers next to my cuttings (all came from here in the NE) and they were fine. So I might try to sneak the figs back into the house but am really scared for the peppers. Sorry to add another question to the pile of unanswered ones but maybe somebody knows what happened?

Bugs, a mite spreads FMV.  There's no telling how long it would take.

Have you tried pet hair in the tops of your pots sat? I do not know if it would really work, but rottweiler hair keeps the deer from eating my Mom's daylillies in the spring (dog stopped shedding in summer and they return for flower buds, at least the plants could finally establish themselves though, lol). I did a quick Google and it looks like one of the recommendations out there. eHow

I've tried everything known to man. Without shaving an entire dog (we had to adopt ours out due to baby) and dropping it on the pot, not sure how I'd go any further than I've already tried.

Jason, based on your story, it seems like newbies should be warned more to keep a sharp lookout for RKN than for FMV.  Seems to me the consensus is FMV = mildly annoying, whereas RKN = potentially devastating.  So while if you get UCD cuttings they may be rife with FMV and other viruses, which may spread and annoy you (or kill a flat of pepper seedlings, allegedly), if you purchase a plant from a commercial nursery and it has RKN, this could cause much larger problems.  Since RKN only affects the roots, there is substantially more risk anytime you receive a whole plant vs just cuttings, no matter the source.

Although I certainly see nothing wrong with giving them fair warning about FMV as well.  It is disconcerting to see these shoots pop up with these mottled, deformed leaves, and I could see this being a big turnoff for newbies.  Possibly enough to make them drop the hobby early on, which certainly would be a bad thing for the fig community.

I think humans have a natural aversion to the appearance of disease. I bought a fig from a nursery last year and it came with light-colored, mottled leaves. I thought it might be cultural, but after readig the material on this site, I suspect it might be FMV. As a beginner, I will disappointed to know that the nursery is selling this stuff without fair warning.

I am right with you on the red delicious. First honey crisp I ate was fantastic. Second one was only good for the roughage. Figs are the same way: taste will depend on culture and growing conditions. The proof is in the eating.

Rob, all I'm saying is ... it's in the eye of the beholder, not my place to make that call for everyone.  Everyone should at least have the option.  In some places down south (like Florida) or anywhere with sandy soils where RKN is able to move more easily, they may argue that point.

Additionally, it's not clear which has more impact on growth - RKN causes some growth problems, but so does FMV.  Which is worse?  Dunno.  Don't want to find out.

Wish I knew then what I know now.

Jason,
When you ask. Wish I knew then what I know now. What do you mean?

Just starting out I do not want to make the same mistakes and can not turn the time back. I know all figs have some kind of FMV in them. Does some have more than others?

Is there only one FMV and does it effect the fig differently?

I received this fig cutting in Feb. Today the leaves look all deform to me, more so than any other cuttings that I received this year. Do I keep it or discard  it now be fore it is to late?  I am looking for some good advise now, rather than when it to to late to turn back.

FMV is Fig Mosaic Virus.  There is a ton of information to be gathered either here or via Google.  Here is a good thread (click) to read, especially posts #18 and #19 - there are at least a half dozen viruses that infect figs, most aren't talked about here, viruses like AFCV-1, AFCV-2 and FBV-1.

So, to answer your question, FMV is unique, I've only heard of one strain of it, but there are others... who knows how AFCV-1, AFCV-2 or FBV-1 present in a fig cutting?  Who knows if some of UCD's plant material is so slow to grow because it's infected by multiple viruses?  What we are calling FMV could actually be some AFCV-* variant. 

Your pictured fig has the signs I associate with FMV:  deformed young leaves with light green "mosaic" patterns.  Supposedly, FMV can only be distributed by a certain type of mite and not by pruning shears or proximity, but ... who knows?  Research in Turkey supposedly confirms this as facts, but there are so few documents out there on it.  Who knows if it will infect your other trees.  If you're worried about it and the variety isn't important to you, then feel free to burn it or double-bag and trash it.  It's your call.  However, if you ever find that some of your other trees are infected, you might feel like an idiot for tossing this one, especially if it's rare.

Quick reality check, and part of the reason why Cathy, Jon and myself are probably more in the "it's impossible to have an FMV-free collection" camp:  Some trees are heavily affected by FMV.  Others may only show a tiny trace on a tiny corner of every 50th leaf, a spot so miniscule you'd never see it...however, the second you add some stress like too much heat or cold, too much or too little water or light and *BAM* all of a sudden all the leaves show symptoms.  You just never know.  You never know what you've got. 

Anyway, despite my beliefs that it's probably not possible to be FMV-free in this hobby, I still want to respect others and forewarn them about fig infections.

My main gripe is with RKN much more so than FMV. I'll never buy a fig tree from another nursery again because of my experience. This is why I say, "if i knew then what i know now", because if I had the knowledge back then that i have now, I would have never, ever, ever in a million years bought a plant from any nursery, regardless of how reputable it may be. I would have been patient, stuck with cuttings and grown all of my trees that way. At least then, if I ended up with RKN, I could know it was something else, other than where I know the vast majority of RKN around my home came from. Hell, I got one tree a couple years ago that came with live mealybugs on it!! And they were huge!! Two days after finding out what it was, I saw the person I bought the tree from post a picture of a tree from their collection that was covered in them. The picture disappeared after I pointed it out. It just goes to show you ...

Just got an email that the cuttings are on their way!

I had an e-mail reply from the collection manager. He says all cuttings were taken in February and should begin shipping momentarily.

Per UPS, mine arrived at the sorting facility here this afternoon, so they will be here tomorrow.   hooray!

Got my order today! Hopping with joy.

What is the latest UC Davis has shipped in the past?

Early April, if I remember correctly.

Has anyone received any fig cutting from UC Davis yet this spring?

Ben,

check out posts #47 and #48

My package shows it will be delivered tomorrow (via fed ex)

Tks Ruben... could not find my glasses....looks like west coast crew has a lot shorter trip than mine... can't hardly wait....

I didn't get my cuttings (pomegranate) yet. Still waitin'

My tracking number appears to be saying tomorrow (thurs) for delivery too.