• Topics: Plant Pathology  |  Plant Disease Management Guide. Fruit and Nut Crops  | French-Monar, Ronald D  |  Roberts, Pamela  | Fig Pest Management 

2006 Florida Plant Disease Management Guide: Fig (Ficus carica)¹

AERIAL/WEB BLIGHT (Thanatephorus cucumeris/ Rhizoctonia solani )

Symptoms: Symptoms on leaves initially appear yellow, or sometimes brownish, and may be watersoaked. Eventually the upper leaf surface turns silvery white and the underside is covered with the brown webbing of the fungus. The leaf will eventually die but can be held onto the twig by fungal strands coming from the petiole. Fungal mycelia, or strands, can cover and kill the twigs and can cover the fruit causing fruit mummification. Small brown-to-black reproductive structures, called sclerotia, can be observed on the fungal strands covering plant tissue. The sclerotia are very resistant to unfavorable environmental conditions and allow for survival of the fungus for long periods on the plant, in plant debris, or in the soil.

Chemical Controls: There are no EPA-approved fungicides for use on edible figs in Florida.

ANTHRACNOSE ( Glomerella cingulata/Colletotrichum gloeosporoides )

Symptoms: Symptoms on leaves appear as slightly sunken spots surrounded by a dark brown edge. The center of the spot may appear pink from the spore masses which are being produced by the fungus. Frequently, large areas on the leaf turn brown, dry out along the leaf margins, and eventually the leaf falls off. Symptoms on fruit also develop as small, discolored, sunken areas that enlarge and develop pink spore masses in the middle. The fruit develop a soft rot and will drop off the tree.

Cultural Controls: Remove fallen fruit and leaves to reduce surviving inoculum for the next season.

Chemical Controls: There are no EPA-approved fungicides for use on edible figs in Florida.

CERCOSPORA LEAF SPOT ( Cercospora fici, Cercospora spp.)

Symptoms: Spots on leaves initially appear angular with a reddish-brown color. As the leaf spot enlarges, the center turns tan and is surrounded by a brown margin with a yellowish halo. The disease develops most rapidly during the rainy season in mid-summer. Severe disease pressure can cause leaf drop.

Cultural Controls: The plant may be pruned to increase air circulation inside of the foliage. When watering, avoid getting leaves wet since this favors disease infection. Fallen, diseased leaves should be removed to reduce inoculum.

Chemical Controls: There are no EPA-approved fungicides for use on edible figs in Florida.

FIG MOSAIC VIRUS (unknown virus)

Symptoms: Mottling of the leaves is very common, and in some varieties, leaves and fruits may be dwarfed and some leaves may be malformed. On leaves, mosaic spots will appear yellow and may cover large areas of the leaf. Mosaic spots on the fruit may be more subtle in appearance in comparison with the leaf symptoms. In some cultivars, premature defoliation and fruit drop can occur.

Cultural Controls: Clean propagation stock should always be used since this virus is spread by vegetative cuttings.

Chemical Controls: The virus can be vectored by the eriophyid mite Aceria fici; thus, controlling or managing this mite may help reduce incidence of the disease.

MUSHROOM ROOT ROT ( Armillaria tabescens )

Symptoms: Symptoms of this disorder appear suddenly; the tree rapidly wilts, dries out, and one or all trunks may die. The sudden symptoms usually occur during high temperature periods (summer) when the tree has the greatest water demand. The fungus enters the roots and girdles the water-conducting tissues at the soil line. A quick diagnostic test is to use a knife to peel back slivers of bark at the soil line from symptomatic trees. The presence of a creamy-white layer of fungus below the bark will confirm mushroom root rot. The mushroom stage of this pathogen does not reliably appear prior to tree death.

Cultural Controls: Maintain vigor on affected trees. All trunks may not die in the same year. Dead trees must be totally removed (roots and soil). Avoid replanting as the fungus survives in root debris.

NECTRIELLA STEM GALL ( Nectriella pironii/Kutilakesa pironii )

Symptoms: Symptoms appear as woody galls of different sizes on the leaves, twigs, and trunk. This fungus has a wide host range on woody plants but appears to be primarily a wound invader on edible fig. Galls develop at leaf axils, pruning scars, or sites of mechanical damage to trunks or limbs. Stem cankers may occur on some cultivars. Both Nectriella (perfect) and Kutilakesa (imperfect) states can be found in diseased tissue, which appears corky and callused.

Cultural Controls: Avoid excessive wounding of plants. Do not use galled stock for propagation. Prune out galled tissue at least 4-6 inches below obvious symptoms. Remove and discard all pruned plant material.

Chemical Controls: There are no EPA-approved fungicides for use on edible figs in Florida.

PINK LIMB BLIGHT ( Erythricium salmonicolor = Corticum salmonicolor )

Symptoms: This fungus attacks the limbs, twigs, and trunk of the fig plant and produces a pale, pink-colored mycelium that often completely encircles the plant part. The foliage on the affected branch or limb will wilt and die. Eventually, the limb or twig also will die.

Cultural Controls: Prune infected tissue at first appearance. Prune at least 4-6 inches below mycelium-covered twigs. Remove and destroy all pruned material.

RUST ( Cerotelium fici =Physopella fici)

Symptoms: Symptoms initially appear as small, yellow to yellow-green spots on leaves. The spots enlarge and develop a brownish tinge with a reddish border. Small blisters or pustules are then formed on the undersides of the leaves. The rust spores are brownish in color and are produced in these pustules. Heavy infections will cause leaf yellowing and often cause defoliation of the plant in early to mid summer. Young leaves are most susceptible to defoliation.

Cultural Controls: Collect and destroy all fallen infected leaves before the next growing season to reduce surviving inoculum. The plant may be pruned to increase air circulation inside foliage. When watering, avoid getting leaves wet since this favors disease infection.

Chemical Controls: There are no EPA-approved fungicides for use on edible figs in Florida.

SOOTY MOLD (Capnodium spp., other genera)

Signs/Symptoms: Sooty mold is the common name for several species of fungi that grow on the honeydew secretions of insects deposited on leaves and other plant parts. Scales, aphids, psyllids, and other insects that secrete honeydew can be responsible for sooty mold. Fungal mycelium is melanized (darkened), giving the appearance of soot covering the plant part. These fungi are ectoparasitic (growing on the surface) and will not infect plants. However, sunlight penetration is reduced and can result in stunted growth or yield reduction.

Cultural Controls: Cultural practices that will manage insect populations responsible for honeydew secretions in plant parts should be implemented. Such practices may include careful pruning of affected plant parts, control of ants that protect the insects responsible for honeydew, and high pressure washing of tissue with water and, if possible, with soap.

Chemical Controls: Use insecticides for control of ants and secretors of honeydew.

The Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) is an Equal Opportunity Institution authorized to provide research, educational information and other services only to individuals and institutions that function with non-discrimination with respect to race, creed, color, religion, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, political opinions or affiliations. For more information on obtaining other extension publications, contact your county Cooperative Extension service.

U.S. Department of Agriculture, Cooperative Extension Service, University of Florida, IFAS, Florida A. & M. University Cooperative Extension Program, and Boards of County Commissioners Cooperating. Millie Ferrer-Chancy, Interim Dean.

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