Viruses of Figs

[hoosierbanana]

The information available regarding fig viruses is very complex. I compiled data from several research articles into a spreadsheet to make it a little bit clearer. There is much more information out there but not all of it is publicly accessible or even applies to growers. If anyone finds something else they think is relevant please share it.

This is a free abstract from a recent premium article that gives a good overview:

Sixteen different viruses have been found in fig plants affected by mosaic, a disease characterized by a range of symptoms on leaves and fruits. Half of these infectious agents have known molecular properties that have enabled their taxonomic allocation and the design of virus-specific primers for molecular diagnosis. Four of the viruses in question, denoted Fig mosaic virus (FMV), Fig leaf mottle associated virus 1 (FLMaV-1), Fig leaf mottle associated virus 2 (FLMaV-2) and Fig mild mottle-associated virus (FMMaV), are ascertained (FMV) or putative (FLMaV-1, FLMaV-2, FMMaV) agents of mosaic symptoms. As to distribution in the field, FMV is only second to a DNA virus known as Fig badnavirus 1 (FBaV-1), which may not be able to induce symptoms, and whose genome is likely to be integrated in the host genome. Little is known on the economic impact of mosaic on the crop and on the epidemiological behaviour of the viruses infecting it. An exception is FMV, which is efficiently transmitted with a circulative persistent modality by the eriophyid mite Aceria ficus. Mosaic-affected plants can successfully be sanitized with laboratory methods (heat therapy and/or meristem tip culture in vitro). It was suggested, but not experimentally ascertained, that the use of sanitized stocks for the establishment of new orchards, coupled with pesticide treatments against the mite vector, may restrain the dissemination of mosaic.

[smithmal]

Thanks for the abstract.

It's interesting that no clear cut association has been made between fig overall health and virus infection. Though there most likely is a direct relationship (retarded growth, later/less fruit ripening, reduction in hardiness, etc), the question of how much a fig is hampered by virus infection will be different according to it's variety, and growth conditions.

Moreover, there seems to be no treatment options once a fig is infected. There are preventive treatments to treat the mites that act as a vector for the virus, but for many of us, we are already dealing with infected plants.

I received a couple of tissue culture (TC) plants from Raintree Nursery and they look to be virus free, but who knows? That being said, if I had the opportunity to obtain a given fig TC vs. non-TC, I'd probably go for the TC as my experience has been that they seem to grow very fast once they've been properly hardened off.

It would be nice if someone came up with a inexpensive way to perform TC. I'm assuming one could get a rather inexpensive laminar flow hood, some TC plastic ware and the appropriate growing medium and be on their way. Good asceptic technique would be a must, but once that technique is understood, it's not that difficult to replicate.