Unfortunately as it gets spread around some plants will become infected with FMV by fig bud mites, or in rare cases virus is present in only sections of the plant and will show when buds break.
The symptoms are associated with high virus levels, the virus particles actually gum up the works of the cells. But because the amount of virus is always in flux in any tree the symptoms can increase or decrease. That is why it is important to know whether the mother tree shows symptoms, because during rooting the stress may cause the already high levels to increase even more and result in a stunted new plant. Sure, it may grow, figs are weeds after all, but infected plants lack consistency because the virus does have an affect.
The community seems very confused overall by the disease, on the one hand sellers often make declarations about FMV that are very contrary to all published research and advice. On the other growers want healthy plants, but feel like they are offending people who have infected trees. Iāve purchased some varieties multiple times to get healthy specimens, and also worked with symptomatic ones to propagate healthy new plants.
I guess the moral to the story is you can only speak for your own trees (exception made for the Lorax
). People might read about how a variety is healthy from one person and then buy cuttings from someone else and end up with a symptomatic plant (probably fig bud mites as well). It would really help the community if people would share the condition of their trees when distributing.