close to death

ALDEVAUX

luscious,
The fungus Phomopsis can cause diseases in some tree species but I never saw it on Ficus although it is reported as a cause of twig dieback on that tree.
On trees like Russian olive and hickory, symptoms of infection may vary slightly.
On russian olive Phomopsis causes sunken areas called cankers to form on the branches and trunk . However, on hickory, while galls (swellings) form on the branches and trunk.
Phomopsis canker of Russian olive is caused by the fungus Phomopsis arnoldiae. It survives in cankers on the trunk or branches and produces spores throughout the growing season, which are thought to be wind- blown or rain-splashed to nearby trees. The fungus then enters the tree through wounds. The small cankers that appear on branches are reddish brown to black, while larger ones on the trunk are dark colored, sunken, and split open. Sap may ooze from the canker margins. Sometimes wilting and branch die back may occur as the canker girdles the branch or trunk. Eventually, black, pimple-like structures are produced on cankered tissues. These structures contain millions of spores that infect wounded tissue
On hickory, Phomopsis gall is caused by several different species of Phomopsis. Infection may occur at any time throughout the growing season although it is not known how the disease infection takes place,. It is probable that fungal spores initially enter young twigs through wounds and the fungus then progresses into the branches. The symptoms show as round swellings on the branches or trunk which are called called galls. When many galls occur, small branches may be girdled and killed. The galls eventually die after several years and turn black in color.
There are no chemicals sprays, but only preventive methods, reported for these trees for control of Phomopsis canker or gall.
For prevention one should prevent initial infections by avoiding wounding trees, by increasing tree vigor, by watering during dry periods, and fertilizing when necessary. All diseased branches should be pruned and disposed of, especially during dry periods, at least six inches below the gall or the margin of the canker.
As for Ficus sp., the fungus is reported as being caused by Phomopsis cinerascens, but with very little information, I imagine the symptoms and disease cycle should be a bit like those of the other trees. The gall formation that you observed on your tree with the white stuff is probably the gum that has exuded during the gall formation and dried up after a while.
There is a report that you can control this disease on Ficus by removing dead twigs with sterilized shears, and then spraying affected plant parts with a thiophanate methyl or copper fungicide and avoid water stress.
It will be easier to identify the disease if you send us pics of the galls.
Best of luck