Chemical-ecological interaction among Epiphyas postvittana (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae), Botrytis cinerea (Helotiales: Sclerotiniaceae), and Vitis vinifera (Vitales: Vitaceae)

This PhD study evaluated three-way interactions involving grapevine, light-brown apple moth, and grey-mould fungus. Results demonstrate that grapevines when infected by the fungus influence the preference and performance of the moth. The moth prefers to feed on grapevine cultivar Chardonnay more than the cultivar Marsanne. This study untangles ecological complexities that characterize three-way interactions. It offers immense scope for meaningful options to sustainably manage both the moth and the fungus that damage a productive crop such as grapevine in Australia.