What's happening to this fig tree?

[frdnicholas]

Is this something that will hurt the tree or the fruit? I'm in Southeast Coastal Georgia and that tree is about 4 years old. I have other much smaller fig bushes with fruit in the same area about 4-5 ft apart that don't exhibit this browning leave

 

[DirtMechanic]

Looks like a rust fungi. Better photos?

Home Garden Figs

Most people are fond of figs. They are tasty and can be eaten fresh, preserved, or used for baking and making desserts. Figs will do well in most parts of Georgia except the mountainous areas.

extension.uga.edu

From the link:

"Rust​

Fig rust attacks the leaves, usually in late summer. Severely infected leaves turn yellow-brown and drop. The underside of the fallen leaves will have numerous small, somewhat raised, reddish brown spots. These spots are often covered with a dusty golden-yellow mass of rust spores.

Fig rust is usually not fatal, but repeated epidemics will weaken the plant. In any given year, heavy leaf drop from rust will reduce size and quality of the fruit.

Gather all infected leaves from the ground under the bushes in the fall and remove them from the area."

There are some potassium-phospite systemic fungicides that can work on the inside while you work on cleaning the outside. Not sure if fig rust is listed, just that they are broadly effective.