Ficus Leaf damages
Prepared by Maher Jabado Feb 2010
FICUSThe genus, Ficus, consists of over 800 species, several of
which are desirable interior foliage plants.
Although most ornamental figs are trees,
a few are shrubs or vines.
Ficus benjamina, the weeping fig, was first introduced to
industry during the late 1950's and has since
become the most popular interior tree. Some
cultivars of the species are listed along
with their unique characteristics below:
Ficus elastica, the India rubber tree, was grown extensively
as an indoor tree during the early 1950's
and earlier. Today it is difficult to find
commercial sources of the plant because it
has been replaced with several cultivars
listed below:
`Decora' was a significant new cultivar at
the time of its introduction, about 1950.
With its broad elliptical leaves and more
attractive growth habit, it soon replaced
the species.
`Doescheri' has the narrow leaf shape of
the species and a striking variegated pattern
of green, grayish green, yellow, white and
a pink midrib and petiole.
`Robusta' is a compact form which resembles
`Decora', but is more compact and free branching.
`Rubra' has dark, wine red leaves when grown
in full sun. Much of the red color is lost
as the plant grows under reduced light intensity.
`Rubra' is also listed under the names `Burgundy'
and `Abidjan'.
`Sophia' is a new green cultivar with leaves
which are smaller and more rounded than `Robusta'.
Ficus lyrata, the fiddleleaf fig, has the largest leaves
of those figs being produced for indoors.
The cultivar `Compacta', which is widely
propagated from tissue culture, has large
closely spaced leaves with short petioles.
Ficus maclellandi `Alii', sometimes called the Alii fig, is
a relatively new plant, with long, narrow,
willow-like leaves, which is particularly
well suited for medium and large tree production.
Ficus retusa `Green Gem' is a patented cultivar (Plant
Patent No. 5900) which looks much like `Nitida',
except it is more vigorous, has coarser leaves,
and grows much more symmetrically.
Ficus retusa `Nitida', the Cuban laurel fig, has a long
history of use as and interior tree. Although
it has leaves which are similar in size to
the weeping fig, its branches are much stiffer
and lack the weeping habit.
Ficus retusa `Hawaii' has leaves that are highly variegated
with green, grayish green and ivory.
Table 1. Suggested light intensity ranges
and fertilizer application rates for production
of selected acclimatized Ficus
Species and Light intensity Fabric Shade Actual nitrogen
cultivars (foot candles) (percent) rate (lb N/1000
ft2/month)z
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
F. benjamina (cultivars) 4000-6000 60-40 4
F. benjamina `Florida Spire' 1000-2500 80 4
F. elastica (cultivars) 4000-8000 60-30 4
F. lyrata (and cultivars) 2000-6000 72-40 4
F. maclellandii `Alii' 4000-6000 60-40 4
F. retusa (cultivars) 4000-6000 60-40 4
z Use a complete fertilizer with an approximate ratio of 3:1:2.
The potting medium used will vary depending
upon plant size and type. All mixes should
have good moisture holding capacity and aeration.
Potted trees are frequently grown in a medium
with 10 to 20% coarse sand by volume added
to reduce frequency of plants tipping in
the wind. Measures should be taken to avoid
excessive root development into soil beneath
containers, otherwise plants will be shocked
severely at the time they are moved.
Cold Plant injury usually occurs below 2C
, depending upon plant species, physiological
condition of the plant and specific conditions
of the cold period - rate of change, duration,
wind and humidity.
PHYSIOLOGICAL PROBLEMS1) Excessive light intensity during final
stage of production
- Symptoms -
- Leaves, medium to light green with sides
of leaf blade folded upward and margin
wavy.
Branch angle of some species tends to be
narrow and branches stiff. Such plants
are
not light acclimatized and usually defoliate
excessively when moved to interior conditions.
- Control -
- Plants should be exposed to shade levels
of 70% or more (3000 or less ft-c) for
a
minimum of 2 to 6 months depending on plant
size (2 months for up to 8", 3 to
4
months for 20 to 17", and 4 to 6 months
for larger container sizes).
2) Excessive moisture stress
- Symptoms -
- Small reddish spots, 1-3mm across, on the
undersides of leaves of F. lyrata. The symptom is usually observed on stock
plants in full sun which have been air
layered,
and most frequently during the driest months
of December through June. This condition
is rare on plants grown in shade. Leaves
on wilted layers or cuttings of F. elastica, and possibly some other species, remain
in relaxed orientation after normal moisture
content is restored. This is a permanent
condition. Branches of trees in an active
state of growth may bend under moisture
stress,
then partially recover, leaving a permanent
kink or "dogleg" in the stem.
- Control -
- Severe moisture stress can usually be avoided
through good nursery practices. Leaf spotting
can be prevented by timely irrigation of
stock and use of the vertical slit technique
of air layering versus the girdling procedure.
Permanent petiole wilt and stem kinking
can
be avoided with adequate soil moisture
and
high humidity during propagation.
Prevention of excessive root development
outside the container eliminates most of
the shock that occurs when large segments
of root are severed from plants because
roots
extend into soil below the pot. Use of
plastic
ground covers, drip irrigation and root
pruning
during production usually eliminates root
pruning shock when plants are removed.
3) Excessive soluble salts
- Symptoms -
- Plant damage from high salinity can be placed
in two categories based on stage of development.
Plants in production with excessive salinity
in the root zone become stunted and, in
severe
cases, defoliate, starting with the oldest
leaves, and eventually die if the condition
is not corrected. Foliage in early stages
of stress from excessive fertilizer in
the
soil appears dark green, but later new
growth
appears wilted and chlorotic if soil conditions
are not corrected. Root tips of plants
exposed
to excessive salinity shrivel and eventually
die. Plants placed indoors under less than
200 ft-c, with fertility levels above that
recommended for production, usually defoliate
excessively and, in some cases, die.
- Control -
- Avoid over-application of fertilizer and
do not use soil mix components with high
salinity. Irrigate with water that is low
in salts. Salts accumulation can be corrected
in most cases by leaching soil thoroughly.
Reduce soil fertility at the end of the
production
cycle as part of the acclimatization process.
4) Essential element deficiencies
A. General deficiency of primary nutrients
due to under-application of complete fertilizer.
- Symptoms -
- Plants are generally light green with older
leaves exhibiting the greatest chlorosis.
Plant growth is slow.
- Control -
- Adjust fertilizer program to elevate fertility
of soil mix, using a 2-1-2 or 3-1-2 ratio
fertilizer.
B. Potassium (K) deficiency.
- Symptoms -
- Lower leaves exhibit marginal chlorosis and
necrosis. This problem is seen occasionally
on F. elastica stock. Leaf tissue analysis is the best
way to confirm suspicions of a nutritional
disorder.
- Control -
- Supply potassium to the soil at rate based
on soil and tissue tests. Potassium chloride
and potassium nitrate are good potassium
sources.
C. Magnesium (Mg) deficiency.
- Symptoms -
- Lower leaves, primarily on F. nitida, become chlorotic at the most distant margins
first.
- Control -
- Plants grown with adequate soil-incorporated
dolomite should not develop Mg deficiency.
Foliar or soil surface applications of
magnesium
sulfate at the rate of 1 pound per 100
gallons
will correct the deficiency.
D. Manganese (Mn) deficiency
- Symptoms -
- Terminal leaves of primarily F. nitida exhibit an interveinal chlorosis.
- Control -
- Prevention is accomplished through incorporation
of a microelement blend such as MicromaxTM
or PerkR, at the rate of 1 to 2 pounds
per
cubic yard of potting mix. Manganese-deficient
plants can be sprayed with manganese sulfate
at the rate of 0.5 pounds per 100 gallons.
BACTERIAL PROBLEMS1) Crown gall - (Agrobacterium tumefaciens)
- Symptoms -
- Slightly swollen areas on the stems, leaf
veins and even roots are initially apparent.
These swollen areas enlarge and become
corky.
In cases of severe infection they may enlarge
and merge to create a very distorted stem
or root mass. Galls may also form on the
ends of cuttings or stems where cuttings
have been removed.
- Control -
- Remove and destroy all plants found infected
with the bacterium, then sterilize any
cutting
tools used on them. Since a fungus is also
known to cause galls on Ficus, and accurate disease diagnosis must be
made.
2) Xanthomonas leaf spot - (Xanthomonas campestris pv. fici)
- Symptoms -
- Foliar infections on ficus start as tiny
pinpoint water-soaked areas which can rapidly
enlarge. They tend to remain confined to
the areas between leaf veins. Sometimes
lesions
have a bright yellow border. In severe
infections
leaf abscission is common. All ficus species
tested have been found susceptible to the
pathogen, although the most commonly affected
plants are Ficus benjamina.
- Control -
- Eliminate all stock plants which have Xanthomonas
leaf spot. The disease can be difficult
to
control if plants are produced with overhead
watering or exposure to rainfall. Bactericides
such as copper containing compounds may
be
somewhat effective if used on a preventative
and regular basis. In addition, use of
elevated
rates of fertilizer have been shown to
reduce
severity of Xanthomonas leaf spot on Ficus benjamina.
FUNGAL PROBLEMS1) Anthracnose - (Glomerella cingulata, Colletotrichum spp.)
- Symptoms -
- Anthracnose is characterized by yellow and
later dark brown spots anywhere on the
leaf.
Yellowish masses of spores form in zones
along leaf veins or in concentric rings
in
the spot. Eventually leaves may abscise.
Ficus elastica cultivars are commonly infected with this
pathogen during the summer months and appear
especially susceptible when they are being
rooted under mist conditions.
- Control -
- Keep plant stresses from water and heat to
a minimum. Do not use any cuttings which
have spots when taken from the stock plants.
On rooted plants minimize overhead irrigation
and exposure to rainfall if possible.
2) Botrytis blight - (Botrytis cinerea)
- Symptoms -
- Large, tan to brown leaf spots with concentric
rings, usually found between the leaf and
sheath or on leaf tips. Botrytis blight
occurs
primarily on Ficus elastica during cool periods of the year especially
on cuttings.
3) Cercospora leaf spot - (Cercospora sp.)
- Symptoms -
- Tiny and slightly raised, red or dark green
spots on lower surface of Ficus elastica leaves.
- Control -
4) Corynespora leaf spot - (Corynespora cassiicola)
- Symptoms -
- Small to large, reddish leaf spots on the
youngest mature leaves, with leaf abscission
common in severe infections when leaf spots
expand interveinally.
- Control -
- This disease occurs on both green and variegated
forms of Ficus benjamina and Ficus nitida but is more severe on the variegated cultivars.
Keep fertilizer applications at recommended
levels, and eliminate overhead water if
possible.
5) Southern blight (Sclerotium rolfsii)
- Symptoms -
- Plants with southern blight may initially
appear similar to those infected with many
stem or root infecting fungi. As the disease
advances, however, the white cottony masses
of mycelia and brown seed-like sclerotia
set this disease apart. The sclerotia usually
form on the basal portion of stems of infected
plants but may also be found on infected
leaves. Eventually the entire cutting or
plant may be covered with the fungus.
- Control -
- Southern blight must be controlled through
preventions. Use pathogen-free potting
medium,
pots and planting materials.
NEMATODE PROBLEMS1) Foliar nematode - (Aphelenchoides besseyi)
- Symptoms -
- Leaf spots begin near the midvein on lower
leaves and extend to the margin. They are
usually rectangular in shape. The primary
species of Ficus which is a host for this nematode is F. elastica.
- Control -
- Infection of Ficus elastica occurs through movement of nematodes from
weeds to lower leaves. Mow weeds in field
plantings to stop this movement.
2) Lesion nematode - (Pratylenchus sp.)
- Symptoms -
- Root systems are greatly reduced in vigor
and appear rotted in many cases. Since
the
symptoms caused by fungal root pathogens
are so similar, accurate diagnosis of the
problem is critical to disease control.
- Control -
- Use sterile soil and grow plants off the
ground if possible.
3) Root knot nematode - (Meloidogyne spp.)
- Symptoms -
- Galls occur on roots and the root system
may be drastically reduced; plant stunting
and wilting occur when severe infestations
are present.
- Control -
- Use sterile soil and grow plants off the
ground if possible.
INSECT AND RELATED PROBLEMSThe major insect pests of this plant group
include mealybugs, scales and thrips. However,
there are a number of minor arthropod pests
such as mites, fungus gnats and aphids
which
will attack Ficus spp. occasionally, but will not be discussed
here. In the control section for each pest,
a few of the many registered and effective
pesticides will be listed. For a complete
listing, please consult the references
at
the end of this report.
1) Mealybugs
- Symptoms -
- Mealybugs appear as white, cottony masses
in leaf axils, on the lower surfaces of
leaves
and on roots. Honeydew and sooty mold are
often present and infested plants become
stunted and, with severe infestations,
plants
parts die.
- Control -
- Systemic materials are preferred.
2 Scales
- Symptoms -
- Infested plants become weakened or stunted
and die. Scales can be found feeding on
leaves,
petioles or stems. Their shapes, sizes
and
colors are variable and many are hard to
distinguish from the plant material on
which
they are feeding.
- Control -
- See mealybugs.
3) Thrips
- Symptoms -
- Infested leaves become curled or distorted,
with silver-gray scars where feeding has
occurred. Thrips damage is most severe
on
F. nitida.
- Control -
- Many materials are registered and effective
in controlling thrips.