Fig bud mites are eriophyid mites, they are less than a quarter the size of spider mites and don't look anything alike. They can only be seen with a microscope and cause symptoms similar to FMV which has made them an insidious problem with many sellers spreading them to unsuspecting growers.

In the first picture it looks like the newest leaf is not deformed at all, if spots show up as the leaf enlarges that is tell-tale of fig bud mites, while FMV symptoms are usually visible almost as soon as new leaves emerge.

Sunnyvalley,

I believe your fig tree came infected with Fig Mosaic Virus. It can go dormant and a fig tree's leaves will show no signs of the characteristic blotching and leaf distorting/puckering. Then it can pop up, presumably under periods of stress. Some branches on a fig tree may show FMV symptoms, while the rest of the tree looks fine.

My understanding is that once a fig tree is virused, all its parts are so, even its fruit, but the fruit is harmless to eat. A virused fig tree cannot be cured to date.

I certainly hope your fig tree grows out of it as Jason, above, has stated can happen. I have become confused because of the conflicting views on the fig virus issue....almost as many opinions on it as there are fig aficionados. Some say ignore it. Others say destroy the entire tree.

One of my fig trees, a Black Mission, is FMV infected. I bought it so, unaware. All my fig trees are pot cultured, and no others show any FMV symptoms. My Panache has mottled leaves, looking like they are virused, but I have been informed that this is normal for Panache.

My 5 yr. old Black Mission is starting to produce abundantly, and although some of its branches have leaves that show blotching/distortion, the fruit is big, abundant, and normal. My plan is to wait it out, continue giving all my fig trees good care, and see what transpires.

I will add, I purchased 4 small, tissue cultured Black Mission Figs, that are FMV free. I got them just in case my virus infected Black Mission tree starts declining. If needs be in the future, I will have clean trees available as replacements.

I do not know how to advise you. Certainly I am no expert on figs. I just love them. I would urge you to continue exploring available information on FMV. You will probably get a variety of seemingly contradictory views. From these, you will have to decide on your own what course of action you will take, if any. I wish you achieve a satisfactory end result.

Moses

Sunnyvalley, yes yours has FmV usually with the blotching of colors there is usually mishappen leaves as well on plant which is seen in the last picture.

There are known different strains of FmV that affect our beloved ficus carica plants and in severe case the plant can have what can be described as a cocktail several strains affecting it at same time. The virus is said to reside inside the cells of plant. Have personally had several plants over many years growing as such and the leaves and fruit as well was affected in a bad way where plant was destroyed. I believe some of those fruit pictures are stored on older disk from around 2010.

Mostly fig plants that do have it can do well in containers if fertilized and watered during growing season with the so called fig plants that have a severe case or cocktail of FmV strains should be discarded.

As someone mentioned in this thread there is no known cure once a individual plant has it but its been done successfully in a lab where invitro was involved which the home gardener cannot do as it is or was performed in a lab under strict sterile conditions .

From reading about and in brief with not correct terminology on my part a newly formed bud of plant was taken and the tiny outer leaves somehow peeled away until they are all gone and inside difficult to see with human eye is a part that contains everything needed to create a clone of plant but there is special way to propagate that minuscule piece of life.

In that experiment plant or plants i recall were grown and tested to be some free of the virus while if memory serves correct some did have it probably because they were no excised from plant in time or they were experimented in a way as to see what size etc gave them the best results just a guess though.

So it is possible in those regards but known clean plant can be infected during its lifespan if put into wrong area of country that is known to be problematic.

Also yes cucumber and many other vegetables have mosaic virus just a different mosaic virus even tobacco plants are known to have it.

Martin

Thanks Martin

Hello Martin, I was reading your response above but I thing you missed something.

Mostly fig that do have it can do well in containers if fertilized and watered during growing season with the so colled.....these part is missing.

Are all 3 picture FmV infected ?

Thanks.

Bluemoonlight that was a typo should have read Mostly fig plants that do have FmV except those that have the severe case can do well.

The first couple of pictures cannot say positively but from my experience growing them i would lean toward yes last picture with its deformed leaves definitely show classic display.

UcDavis Ischia Black is perfect example of a plant with multiple strains of FmV here is 1 of several grown in yard this one from 2010 misshapen and spotting of leaves along with but hard to see bubbling on outer leaf at 3 o'clock as cannot post the original picture being too large for forum to accept.

Over the later years i have seen some UcDavis ischia black specimens look very nice after multiple propagation on the old figs for fun forum from some members.

Ischia Black -2010

Have a UcDavis black madeira specimen from 2008 that has FmV which has been
propagated by taking the best looking branch multiple times until better results were seen.

Here is one i kept of the black madeira propagated several years ago with few example of ripe fruit these are my favorite type to eat - picture taken 2017.

Martin

Sorry but I have to ask ! Does the FMV starts in roots ?

I thing I got it Martin !

By taking the best looking brunch multiple times until better results where seen ( so the best brunch must by cut off and started as a cutting then grow it and repeat it until there are no visible symptoms of FMV ).

Could it be done by air layering ? Thanks Martin.

No i do not think so its been said it can be transmitted by pruners on forums but known for sure transmitted by the feeding E.Mite. Here in link is some mentioned different strains of FmV .

Mentioned before in thread a fig can have a cocktail of FmV that is multiple strains or a mild case perhaps 1/2 strains?

You mention this -

By taking the best looking brunch multiple times until better results
where seen ( so the best brunch must by cut off and started as a
cutting then grow it and repeat it until there are no visible symptoms
of FMV ).Could it be done by air layering.

I do the airlayering multiple times from different good looking branches usually some signs may appear eventually same season or next and perhaps not nearly as severe.

To date after trying and discarding finally have 1 black madeira that shows no fmv symptoms after 2 full growing seasons and last season producing well late in season as this particular cultivar produces late in in my zone .

Not a cure and have no way of testing it to see why showing no symptoms short of trying to send it out for testing which i do not see doing .

Just happy it is growing and producing better than parent which still have since 2008.

Here is link briefly talking about different strains of FmV in ficus carica fig plants - https://www.actahort.org/books/1173/1173_48.htm

Thanks for your time Martin, your fig tree and figs look perfect.

I too have Black Madeira that shows no symptoms of FMV your BM leaf patent looks like leaves on my BM

I thing you have seen these pictures.

But these is what concerns me !

Anna

Bluemoonlight - by far not an expert but have read that fig necrotic spots are associated with FmV.

Had 2 different cultivars over the years that showed the same as yours a Black Bethlehem and a Kalamata Black both plants also showed FmV symptoms on leaves as well. Both were discarded eventually.

Here Black Bethlehem fig fruit is around 3/4 weeks old as of July 1st. This plant did produce some ripe figs but many such as the figs shown on plant would have the spots darken and fig would fall before its time and or ripen that looked bad and were not eaten.

Kalamata Black in 4/5 years growing never produced 1 ripe fruit but suspect this cultivar needed the wasp not in our area .

Like i mentioned just an average gardener and post what has been observed in yard over the years.

Martin

Me again ! Martin these will be the 5 season for the nicotinic spots (waw I feel like scientist using words lokr that haha) on that fig tree.

Non that I remember fell off (and I see my fig trees a few times a day ) the fig ripen and taste fine soft and sweet if I give it enough time, I am not traing to contradict anything just writing what I observed here with my fig trees.Should I start the process of taking the best looking brunch and keep the mother plant

Will it get worse ?

Anna

Big Thanks everyone if it's bad news Martin.

Bluemoonlight, sure you can try and propagate to get a better acting plant keeping mother plant in process as have done that with our B.Madeira.

Martin

Martin have you tried to cut the affected young brunch off if the healthier will grow out of it ? Using brand new blade ?

Just speculating

Bluemoonlight you said -

Martin have you tried to cut the affected young brunch off if the healthier will grow out of it ? Using brand new blade ?

Just speculating

Can you type that again there i do not understand what your asking please.

Marttin

Martin sorry about my English, don't wary about that last post.

Thanks for all your help.

These is one of the figs that I have problem with its Italian Honey.

See how the new grows is twisting and I know it's not because of light.

The white powder on it is Diatomaceous earth powder, I thought maby it's bud or spider mites.

Not much you can do for the crooked bud it may eventually turn to sun if not after sometime given just cut it off and eventually a node will sprout or several new ones and select the one that suits you.

Martin

Martin is it the FMV that that made the brunch curve like that ?

Had one do that years ago on native de argentile but as for fmv causing it is anyones guess.

Martin

Thanks Martin