Field surveys were carried out in the Herzegovina region during the spring of 2015 ig
orchards and outdoor gardens in Mostar, Trebinje, Ljubuški and Grude. A total of 49 fig leaf samples were collected from plants
showing different symptoms associated with fig mosaic disease and
asymptomatic plants. Total nucleic acids were extracted from leaf midribs and tested by RT-PCR for
the presence of FMV, FLMaV-1, FLMaV-2, FMMaV, FLV-1, FCrV, and FFkaV, while the presence of FBV-1
was assessed with PCR using specific primers. The analyses revealed the presence of FMV, FLMaV-1,
FLMaV-2, FMMaV, FFkaV and FBV-1 in collected fig samples. The most common infections were with FMV,
FLMaV-1 and FBV-1. Moreover, mixed infections involving two or three viruses were
frequently found. Sequencing analyses results showed that Herzegovina isolates shared
83-99% nt identity with other isolates of the same viruses stored in GenBank. The virus status
of this crop is probably compromised and a sanitation programme is required to produce
healthy plant material.
Keywords: Ficus carica, virus diseases, RT PCR, PCR, Herzegovina
