Bass,

Very interesting post. From what I gathered by reading this article it appears that further research is required to fully identify the exact cause of FMV. They seem to know what signs (at the cellular level) accompany FMV, but aren't sure which of those signs is the actual cause. It would be nice to have a cure one day.

It was also helpful that they differentiated necrosis from mosaic. Most of my fig trees have visible signs of mosaic. But a couple have necrosis, and that is much worse.

Like I said, good post.

Joe

i was interested to read that the virus isn't transmitted by sap or seed, only by mite.  so, does this suggest that FMV cannot be spread by dirty shears?

If it is not spread by sap, then transmission by clippers should not be possible.

i was always adamant about using bleach or alcohol wipes to clean my shears between cuttings.  i guess this is good news.

it makes me wonder though - what is so special about this mite that it is able to spread the virus, whereas infected sap cannot.  this defies logic to me.  i guess it is the same concept which allows, like, west nile virus to infect by mosquito, but if i have west nile virus and i squirt blood onto your cut, you may not get it?

Well This report is very informative.
Knowing now for sure the Mite is needed to spread the virus,all we need to find out is what are the climates and localities,the mites can survive and where they can't survive.
Then we will know if the virus will spread if growing an infected tree between healthy ones,in the orchard.
Personally my opinion,is that in my climate and Back yard the Aceria fici,mite is not present and so no spreading here.
I have never forund one even looking trough a microscoop,wich I did,look,and also did not notice any spreading.
Healthy figs stay healthy,and infected figs stay that way here.
Many infected trees produce good crops,and many others produce noithing,so ,it is eather that some cultivars are more tolerant to virus,than the rest,or,that many strains of the virus,are more or less distructive.

Jason, I really wonder about that, too - it seems to go against logic. Fireblight supposedly can be spread by unclean tools. But if the article is correct that it is not sap transmissable, then logically, unclean tools are not an issue.

The article identifies "an eriophyid mite, Aceria ficus Cotte" as the perpetrator but it does not claim that it is the only reason. Assumptions may lead to relaxed care.

Thanks for the posting Bass.
Here is article about the mite, the 3rd paragraph is interesting.
http://floriculture.osu.edu/archive/oct05/Mite.html