Odd fig leaf issue

[timclymer]

Well, this is a new one for me. I was out looking at our in-ground figs today and noticed some spots on the leaves of 4 plants (out of 80) that were troubling. It seems to be causing wilting of some new growth (though other new growth is fine). Japanese beetles just arrived this week but I usually see them knawing on the tips of the bushes, if at all. Any ideas? Three of the four plants are right next to each other and the other is maybe 20 feet away in the row. No problems at all on any other plants, which is why it's puzzling. The affected branches fed the goats tonight. The only thing I can think of is that we had people come over to pick berries near this area and maybe they sprayed themselves with DEET? I've never seen this on my trees.

[hoosierbanana]

It sure looks like a fungus to me. If there were dark rings around the light spots it would look just like cercospora.

[WillsC]

Looks like fungus to me as well. Have you been getting a lot of rain?

[AscPete]

Tim,

If you had not commented about the DEET, I would have guessed that it was some sort of chemical spray, which resulted in sun scald on the damaged contact areas. Sun scald produces similar colored patches, but not usually circular dots.

With Rust the spots start out rust colored and get brown, With bacterial infection the spots start out brown to black then spread outwards from the inoculation point sometimes resulting in sun scald, but its usually in larger patches with darker margins. BTW for occasional dark or black spots I usually just remove the infected section of the leaf with scissors. Good Luck.

[rayrose]

Looks like some type of rust.

[rusty hooks]

anyone spraying anything else on or near that area? The fact that the trees are all in close proximity to one another would lead me to consider that first.

I'd keep an eye on the next few new leaves coming out, it seems as if there is good growing going on. If, after a very short period of time, the pattern continues, I'd remove the affected leaves, bag them and take them to the nearest ag station (if there is one) associated with an ag college. The lower leaves look good...which also leads me to think it was something going on at a particular period. (missed the goat introduction into the equation on the first read...lol.

Do you have a "master gardner" program in your area? Sometimes you can get pretty good information if there isn't a financial concern attached to the answer...as in retail nursery's.....and taking possible fungal activity to a retail nursery isn't always fully appreciated.

The speckling shows a pattern on the leaves affected....either by shade or by obstruction...any directional activities going on?...as in up or down wind?

possible misting drift or watering overspray on a hot day

[timclymer]

After discussing with my wife, I'm almost certain it was DEET. She had handed it to some folks who were picking berries and I guess they sprayed it on near the figs. Woops. DEET can be nasty to plastics too from what I've seen. Thanks for all of the feedback all!

I'll keep an eye out for it to happen again but for now, the culprit is DEET in my mind.

[timclymer]

By the way, once we figured it was DEET, we took the branches out of the goat pen. No need or desire for them to eat that, even if it's just some overspray

[hoosierbanana]

It just doesn't look like a spray pattern, the upper leaves would have shielded the lower ones. And wouldn't the groundcover in the area have been affected if DEET melts plastic?

[AscPete]

Here's a few photos of leaves with issues...
They are;
Sun scald, with necrosis of scalded areas.
Insect damaged, when young and tender resulting in necrotic spots, holes.
Viral infection, FMV infected, resulting in necrotic spots that turn brown and resemble Rust.