FMV Mites

[Taverna78]

Being tis my first season having many new fig varieties other than Bi39 and Blanco by my home never seeing FMV/Mites before I assume it came from someone else tree I receive. No blame whoever came from is nature. But there is tis virus being talk about a lot recently. Is it always tis popular in past or is tis season seem to be worst?

[cis4elk]

I've been meaning to look up what the fig mite looks like. This season, there are mites everywhere at my place. The good thing(maybe) is that the mites on my trees are the same mite that is on everything, so maybe it doesn't spread FMV..but maybe it does. The vast majority of my trees have never shown any leave discolorations, and this year up until a couple weeks ago that was true. Now I have a whole section of trees showing leaf splotches, but they turned up the same time our weather transitioned from soggy to hot.. so I'm not so worried. I still only have a few trees with the disfiguring FMV, I hope it stays that way.
I was fighting the mites this year, but at this point most every plant in my yard has them so it is sort of futile. I still plan to use my homemade bug blaster whenever numbers start to rise on my trees. I found the bug blaster used twice in a week is actually quite effective at making life seriously crappy for the mites on any given plant.

[Taverna78]

I would of think with all the rain we have it would just wash them off but apparently they love the rain.

[Gina]

http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/r261100611.html

The fig mosaic is vectored by the eriophyid mite Aceria fici; feeding by a single mite is sufficient to transmit the virus to a healthy seedling of F. carica. The virus can also be transmitted by grafting, but it is not seed borne.

Apparently this mite only lives in warmer climates such as where figs naturally grow. They are said to be killed in freezing weather, so spread is less likely in places that get cold in the winter. Here in a Mediterranean climate, they are more likely to be able to spread the virus. There are said to be 4 or 5 different strains of the Fig Mosaic virus. I've seen it suggested that some of the plants from the UCD (USDA) repository are so badly infected/stunted because they may have several strains of the virus instead of just one.

[Taverna78]

That makes sense because I never see them before in Chicago climate. All my trees I have new are from warm climates. If Tis Forbid 4F no work I guess I will just have to protect the roots and let the trees freeze in winter?

[don_sanders]

How cold would it have to get to kill them? When protecting the trees in colder zones, are we also protecting the mites? For example, I had planned to move my trees to an attached garage once they go dormant.

Are you actually seeing the mites Taverna78? My understanding was that they were too small to see by the naked eye.

[Taverna78]

I no see them but has all the signs of them. I doubt it's them in the photo I post on Raf post but I do see little white smaller than pin point on leafs. You see in photo. Also is some tiny white powdery bumps on figs....

[rusty hooks]

use a small eye loop...and you'll be able to see them....they love heat and humidity...reproduce better as the temperature increases

I had them badly this year as well...tried everything...finally went "chemically postal" with them....corrected the situation ....for the moment at least

BTW...if you go chemical don't use carbaryl...it's been shown to increase reproductive rates in spider mites

I'm typically an organic guy...no sprays anywhere...but they were doing harm and it was getting nasty....so I used my high caliber option along with other helpful techniques

it should be noted that first attempts were with pyganic, azamax and spinosad but did not do the job...and I was patient...to my limits

[eboone]

what 'postal' chemical fixed the infestation?

[rusty hooks]

Spectracide brand of Malathion on three day cycles for 12 days...and now paying very close attention to reapplication

I just don't like using them...but for all that, I'll use them judiciously when absolutly necessary

[Taverna78]

Let me ask Tis.... If I were to get a tree mailed from an area they are problematic how quickly would they reproduce and infest? Because some say I have others do not. My in ground trees never look like Tis so something happened. Did anyone that got a bi39 growing already notice anything on their tree from me?

[SCfigFanatic]

I use pyola as a preventative measure against mites.
Works better than anything I have used so far.

http://www.gardensalive.com/product/pyola-insect-spray-4/pest-control

Doug

[AscPete]

Taverna78,

IMO nutrient deficiency should be ruled out before jumping to the conclusion that fig mites (Aceria fici) are causing leaf mosaic symptoms. Excessive and fast vegetative growth will often result in large, thin leaves that have not had the time to develop properly with thin areas and sometimes a visible savoy (wavy) look, but is not indicative of leaf mosaic. I also agree with Gina in post #4, fig mites are not a major problem in colder zones where temperatures fall below freezing for extended periods of time in the dormant season.

Fig Mosaic Virus is systemic, its transmitted within the cells of Fig trees, it has been proven to be "spread" (vectored) by fig mites and cultivation of infected cuttings. Uninfected feeding mites can only cause localized leaf mosaic symptoms in healthy plants, and will not cause viral infection if none exists. Fig mites can only infect other trees if they had already been feeding on infected trees. FMV cannot be spread by mite eggs from newly hatched mites.

With this info its simple to create an "isolation" area where newly acquired plants (cuttings) are treated with Miticides and Fungicides (for Fig Mites and Rust) before introduction into the garden or orchard. They can also be fertilized while in "isolation" to eliminate any Leaf Mosaic (Fig Mosaic Disease) that are actually caused by nutrient deficiency and not FMV. BTW, when in doubt, I spray the entire plants, top and undersides of leaves with Neem Oil Solution (Bonide Neem Oil 70% @ 3 tablespoons / gallon of water) at 5 day intervals to kill mites and hatching eggs. Good Luck.

[SCfigFanatic]

Pete, I have never seen you show a ripe fig. Have you accomplished this yet? I have been wondering for years.

Doug

[AscPete]

Doug,
I've made it a point of posting ripe figs and dominant leaves for years (since I started growing them, and after reading the Dan_LA bashings). My avatar on the left is Conadria from last season and @ F4F I've posted photos in "Fig of the Day" which is pinned on the 1st Page....
I've also posted several photos here and in the Varieties List pages, they're in my Profile Photo albums ...

[hoosierbanana]

He had these spotting symptoms spread to an inground tree that never showed anything like it before... No way it is a nutrient deficiency.

[AscPete]

Its also possible that the tree already had FMV and its visible now due to stress.

[Taverna78]

How de stress a tree? Quaalude fertilizer ?

[Taverna78]

That's what I'm saying my inground trees have been perfect healthy fruit bearing for years... I get new cuttings and trees Tis season and are all in pots besides my two I've had and they all look this way. Same weather pattern.. Maybe bit more rain Tis summer but all in all same weather patterns. How can there be same nutrient deficiencies in pots vs ground and all in different potting soils?? That just do no make sense. I understand mites no live in Tis areas climate. But maybe they came on purchased new plans and spread to others? Something must be more to it

[don_sanders]

Here's a picture of my bi39. It seems to have some discoloration and malformed leaves but seems to be growing well. I assumed fmv but I don't know with my untrained eye. I wasn't able to find any mites with my little handheld microscope. It says 60x but doesn't really seem to magnify that much. I can see the leaf hairs though.

I was under the impression that fmv was inevitable if you were going to grow more than a handful of figs.

Maybe I should spray anyway?

FMV or not, I still greatly appreciate the generosity.

[AscPete]

Don,
What's your current fertilization schedule for this plant? Leaf mosaic symptoms can also be caused by nutrient deficiencies, even though FMV may be an underlying cause.

[don_sanders]

It's a new acquisition (less than a month) and I wasn't sure what fertilizer it may have already so I really haven't done much yet. I've been using water from my fish tank to water and I gave it a little bit of floralicious plus at a couple of waterings. I was planning to add some Espoma plant tone and some lime (1 cup of each per 5 gallon) when I repot in 40% compost/40% peat moss/20% perlite shortly.

[AscPete]

Don,
Thanks for the reply.

[Taverna78]

Damn that thing grew!! AhH

[SCfigFanatic]

If a tree is infected with fmv it should show signs of fmv whether planted in ground or in a pot.

I read somebody say figs grow better in ground than in a pot.
IMO people do not "adjust" their in ground
soils chemistry with this that or the next thing they read will fix it all.
Inexperienced growers should stick to a
potting soil that is nutrient complete and leave em alone.
After 6 months or more a balanced fertilizer can be used to
replenish the NPK used by the plant. Figs do not need perfect soil to flourish.

I base my opinion on my experience.
With over 60 figs in ground I too should have fmv showing in many figs.
But I don't. Only the typical known carriers like vdb and I have maybe 2 more
with wrinkled discolored leaves on part of the plant.

I use a preventative pyola spray against mites and scale before figs show and only again if I see damage.

I do believe mites can spread to other plants and cause similar damage as fmv shows as well.
To me, prevention is better than spraying damaged leaves after the damage is done.

I'm not here to sugar coat anything or try to make it sound like I know it all.
I am trying to help those who over love their figs. (then blame it all on fmv)

Have a great season all

Doug

[SCfigFanatic]

Other factors with potted plants is the soil temp in the pot.
Pots set on a black surface will adsorb heat and cook the roots.
Pots put in a dug out hole will stay cooler. I'm not sure what leaves might look like with cooked roots?

[Rewton]

Doug, I agree with the temperature of potting mix in a container vs. that of the soil. Thus I do not use black containers at all except 1 gallons where I keep the container somewhat shaded. My containers are painted tan, light green or brick red. Nevertheless, I'm sure the temperature is higher than the soil. Of course this helps them get a faster start in the Spring so it is not all bad.

[SCfigFanatic]

Hi Rewton, I am just trying to figure out why some say in ground trees will grow better than the potted one.
Micro nutrients I think play a micro role in it. The roots spreading on in ground trees is all that makes sense to me.
The soil chemistry does not need to be even very good like my red clay dirt I plant in.

[cis4elk]

After looking at a picture, I definitely don't have fig mites. But my yard is flourishing with a native spider mite, which apparently loves rainy humid conditions and sails with winds.

[SCfigFanatic]

Look under your leaves and for reddish moving critters, you might need to find a spray to kill em off.


Have a good season Calvin.

Doug

[cis4elk]

Thanks Doug you too!
My mites this year are all blonde colored, spraying I think would be futile because they are literally everywhere in the landscape vegetation..having an UP year in their cycle I guess. One of my wonderful next door neighbors backyard is unkept and filled with 6'+ tall thistle and other weeds. I think more will just blow in with next breeze even if I did spray my yard.

[WillsC]

BI -39 Forgive the weeds

[hoosierbanana]

What brand of spot-spitter are you using?

[Taverna78]

Okay. CULLI CAZZI WILLSC!! They look belle!!!! I must have someting! Waow they grow fast! You are the master!

[Taverna78]

Remember again... Before I join tis site I ONLY had bi39 and blanco fig for years. That all grow perfect. Fruit perfect. No leaf deform or color difference.
I now have about 30 new trees that have all started from cuttings or established trees I get from members that all live in the " mediterranean climate".