Abstract

Fig mosaic disease (FMD) is a virus disease that spreads rapidly in all Tunisian fig (Ficus carica L.) orchards. The incidence of FMD was evaluated in five major production regions of Center-East of Tunisia. Prospections at three dates (D1: Beginning of vegetation, D2: Mid-season and D3: Fig maturation) were repeated in fig orchards at regions of Ouardanine (R1), Bekalta (R2), Mahdia (R3), Khemara (R4) and Kerkennah (R5) during 2009 and 2010. The study was performed on 180 trees located in five regions and disease index (D. I.) and the severity degrees (S1 to S6) were recorded. Within-tree distribution of FMD was detailed for the varieties Bither Abiadh (BA) and Kahli (KA). Results showed that in all regions, the D. I. and the severity degrees S1 and S3 on leaves varied according to prospection dates for the two years. The highest D. I. was 14.9 and 9.7, respectively, in 2009 and 2010. The D. I. and the severities of attack on young leaves were more important than those on old ones of the two varieties BA and KA in all the regions. On the shaded leaves, D. I. and severities were higher than those on illuminated ones. FMD on fruits was accentuated during the second prospection period D2 in the regions R2, R3, R4 and R5 and during D3 in the region R1. In all the regions, FMD symptoms on the fruits of some varieties disappeared during D3 (fruit maturity).