Influence of Grapevine Cultivar on the Second Generations of Lobesia botrana and Eupoecilia ambiguella.

Francesco Pavan,Alberto Villani,Giorgio Stefanelli,Elena Cargnus

doi:10.3390/insects9010008

Francesco Pavan, Alberto Villani + Show 2 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/insects9010008

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Abstract

Grapevine cultivar can affect susceptibility to Lobesia botrana and Eupoecilia ambiguella with important implications on control strategies. A four-year study was carried out in north-eastern Italy on 10 cultivars (Cabernet Sauvignon, Carménère, Chardonnay, Merlot, Refosco dal Peduncolo Rosso, Rhine Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, Terrano, Tocai Friulano and Verduzzo Friulano) grown in the same vineyard to assess whether the cultivar affects second-generation population levels of the two vine moths and L. botrana larval age composition. The influence of bunch traits measured at the peak of egg hatching on demographic parameters was also evaluated. Over the four years, L. botrana significantly prevailed over E. ambiguella in nine cultivars. Chardonnay and Tocai Friulano were the most infested cultivars and Merlot was the least infested. At the sampling date, the age composition of L. botrana varied with cultivar, with the larvae being significantly older on Chardonnay and younger on Carménère, Merlot and Verduzzo Friulano. Older larval age was significantly associated with higher bunch compactness. Larval infestation was not significantly influenced by either bunch compactness or berry volume, which suggested a more important role for contact and volatile substances mostly originating from the berries. These results allow for the improvement of Integrated Pest Management strategy against vine moths.

Highlights

The European grapevine moth, Lobesia botrana (Denis & Shiffermüller) (Lepidoptera Tortricidae), and the vine moth, Eupoecilia ambiguella (Hübner) (Lepidoptera Tortricidae), are the principal insect pests in European vineyards
Rhine Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, Terrano, Tocai Friulano and Verduzzo Friulano) grown in the same vineyard to assess whether the cultivar affects second-generation population levels of the two vine moths and L. botrana larval age composition
L. botrana larval phenology is influenced by the cultivar in agreement with adult emergence differences reported in literature [21]; (iv) to verify whether certain bunch traits can explain differences among cultivars regarding susceptibility and larval phenology; and (v) to verify whether any correlation exists between population data collected during the first and second generations. In considering both moth species in two different generations and the higher numbers of cultivars than previous studies and our assessment of bunch traits, the present study provides novel knowledge in the understanding of the biology and management of L. botrana and E. ambiguella

Summary

Introduction

The European grapevine moth, Lobesia botrana (Denis & Shiffermüller) (Lepidoptera Tortricidae), and the vine moth, Eupoecilia ambiguella (Hübner) (Lepidoptera Tortricidae), are the principal insect pests in European vineyards. The Vitis vinifera L. cultivar can influence susceptibility and sensitivity to L. botrana and E. ambiguella [2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20,21,22,23,24,25,26,27,28] as well as to other grapevine insect pests (e.g., leafhoppers [29,30] and scales [31]). The cultivar could affect moth infestation levels through an influence on abundance and diversity of larval parasitoids [18]

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