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The reason nurseries are selling Fig Mosaic Virused fig trees is me!

Moses, Pittsburgh, W. PA., zone 5/6, USA

5 years ago

last modified: 5 years ago

I am very new to figs, pot cultured. My first tree was a Black Mission. Unbeknownst to me, it was/is virused. In spite of that, it produces abundantly.

Of my 25 trees, three others are virused, a Conadria, Madeleine des Deux Saisons, and a Panache. They are recent acquisitions and came virused. It did not occur to me to stipulate to the nurseries that I would not accept a virused tree. I will do that from now on.

If I refuse to buy a virused tree, and others do so in turn, virused nursery stock will become scarcer and scarcer.

If I don't follow through and still, knowingly and willingly, yet reluctantly, purchase virused fig trees, nurseries will continue to sell them, and it will be my fault.

Moses

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Comments (4)

rayrose SC 8
5 years ago
Moses,

There are far too many people that subscribe to the belief that all fig trees have FMV, and that the tree will some how grow out of it. So they don't hold the nurseries or sellers on ebay to the same standard that you and I do. Because of that, FMV will always be around.
Moses, Pittsburgh, W. PA., zone 5/6, USA
Original Author
5 years ago
Rayrose,

Thanks for your input.

Help me out, please. Can you shed some light on these questions?

To your knowledge have you ever heard of a virused fig tree completely recover, and never again show virus symptoms thereafter?

Have the tissue cultured fig trees so often sold online, had the virus wiped clean in the propagating tissue that created them? Are they in fact virus clean?

Has a cure for FMV been developed yet?

Thanks!

Moses
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ramv3
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
If a tree is grown from Tissue Cultured apical meristems, it is possible to have a 100% virus free variety.

However viruses can be spread by fig mites and unless someone is scrupulous about only growing tissue cultured figs and keeping the collection free of mites, it is only a matter of time before that variety is also infected.

Most collectors don't seem to care too much about viruses because nearly all fig varieties seem to produce reasonably well despite having strong evidence of various types of viruses.

A commercial grower on the other hand might prefer varieties that are completely virus free for maximum productivity. This is where tissue culture might have huge benefit.

The technology isn't particularly novel or difficult so I am wondering why the demand isnt there. I am hypothesizing that perhaps the productivity of trees isn't that badly affected at least for the commercially successful varieties.

Now if I could only get someone to culture a virus free Ischia Black - USDA for me. I am happy to provide cuttings!
rayrose SC 8
5 years ago
I've never seen a virused tree completely recover, and I've had sent to me virused trees that completely died. I recently had some dormant trees sent to me from a French nursery, that leafed out virused, and then lost the virus, after I fed them. They're growing as clean plants, and I hope they stay that way. One happens to be an Ischia Black. I don't know, if it's the much heralded UCD version, or even how to tell the difference.

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