I've seen on several websites information about Alma, DFIC 31  (golden/amber) which is a Ficus Palmata Hybrid of Vernino(carica) and Hamma(Palmata/Carica).

It should be immune to Mosaic virus, this is the main claim I would like to ask you about.

Is it really true? What is your observation?

My wife's name is Alma. She has never shown any signs of FMV. That is not true of the Alma fig trees I have. Two of three show FMV though not severe.

Are they saying that because of hybrid vigor?  Hybrids can be strong, but would they be immune to something like that.

Jake--LOL!

I have several Almas and some of the leaves look FMV-ish, but not sure about that.  I'm not sure that just because a leaf isn't formed just right, it has to be FMV because we've had some unseasonably cool temps this spring and the cold wind affected some of the leaves.

noss

LOL, Jake!

noss,
I was searching about the fig info I have rooted this year and while Googling for Alma, I stumbled upon those links:
http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/load/fig/msg0603493424910.html
http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/load/fig/msg0506523722967.html

and also this link from UCD:
http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/r261100611.html

it explicitley says "Ficus palmata, or trees derived from seedlings having F. palmata as the male parent, appear to be immune to mosaic. ", Alma is a hybrid.
Hence my question. My Alma cuttings are too small to tell the extend but looking at the few first leaves they seem to be nicely shaped.

I can't answer your question, but I can tell you that the 3 Almas I bought in '07 have never shown any signs of FMV. I sold one last year but again this year as the 2 I have left leaf out I see no symptoms of FMV.

I do have a 4 year old Alma tree.NO FMV EVER ON THIS ONE !!

I have two, both have always heathy. FMV can be present but not show signs, not uncommon to not show.  Interesting comment about F. palmata as the male parent resulting in derivitives being immune. Maybe the question is has anyone had a FMV infected Alma...Jake has stated he has seen it.

I also have two cuttings that are now in one gal pots and show no FMV. Not that it makes any difference
but my cuttings came from Mississippi.

I do not recall that my Alma ever showed any signs of FMV.

So, Jake, it seems you are in the minority here!  Is it possible that your Alma-plant is not Alma??

Thank you all for your input, very encouraging! How does one create a Ficus Palmata Hybrid?

Most anything is possible. Only the one that does not show FMV has made figs and seems to be true. I received it as a large plant so any early on FMV was gone. Only problem here is the two that seem to have FMV are cuttings of the one that shows no signs.



[QUOTE=greenfig]So, Jake, it seems you are in the minority here!  Is it possible that your Alma-plant is not Alma??

Thank you all for your input, very encouraging! How does one create a Ficus Palmata Hybrid?[/QUOTE]

I have 4 original Alma trees from the old Paradise Nursery and several that I have started as cuttings from those originals. Mine have never shown any signs of fmv. See a picture of the ripe fruit in a thread that I started...'My Paradise Nursery fig trees". It's the amber color one dripping honey from the eye.

Thanks, trif1010! You've got some nice looking trees!  I hope that my Alma is FMV resistant too. 
How does one create a hybrid? I have a VdB that only I know it is a 'fig' tree, the leaves are so badly deformed, I feel sorry for it.

I have a Alma from a couple different source.  One definitely has FMV, the others have no indication of infection.  Either trees produce very good tasting fruit. 

The one that shows signs must've gotten infected. The ones that come from TX are clean.

[QUOTE=Sas]The one that shows signs must've gotten infected. The ones that come from TX are clean.[/QUOTE]
Make sense to me.