Mutualism between a phytopathogenic fungus (Botrytis cinerea) and a vineyard pest (Lobesia botrana). Positive effects on insect development and oviposition behaviour

In this paper we tested the behavior of gravid Epiphyas postvittana in selecting the most-appropriate site for oviposition thus benefitting offspring performance. Our hypothesis was built on Jaenike's preference-performance hypothesis (also referred to as the "mother-knows-the-best" hypothesis). To test this, we used the interacting Epiphyas postvittana, its host Vitis vinifera, and the pathogenic microbe Botrytis cinerea system. Populations of E. postvittana and B. cinerea often exist concurrently on V. vinifera in Australasia and their interaction and mutual influence are currently being explored, although the suggestion presently is that the relationship between E. postvittana and B. cinerea is mutualistic. We tested the effect of volatiles from B. cinerea-infected berries and uninfected (control) berries of V. vinifera on the oviposition behavior of E. postvittana. We also characterized the effects of B. cinerea infection on the berries of V. vinifera on the growth and development of E. postvittana. Contrary to the preference-performance hypothesis, oviposition choices made by gravid E. postvittana did not result in the best offspring survival, development, and performance. The preference for oviposition by E. postvittana was strongly influenced by the olfactory and tactile cues. She laid fewer eggs on B. cinerea-infected berries compared to uninfected berries of V. vinifera. The larvae of E. postvittana showed no preference to uninfected berries of V. vinifera. The larvae fed on B. cinerea-infected berries of V. vinifera showing greater survival rate, shorter time to pupation, greater pupal mass, and on becoming adults they laid more numbers of eggs than the larvae that were enabled to feed on uninfected berries. The larvae of E. postvittana transport the conidia of B. cinerea and transmit grey-mould disease to uninfected berries of V. vinifera.

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“…Following Mondy et al . () and Tasin et al . (), we used berries with visually evident grey‐mould sporulation in the behavioral bioassays.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 85%

Oviposition preference and larval performance of Epiphyas postvittana (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) on Botrytis cinerea (Helotiales: Sclerotiniaceae) infected berries of Vitis vinifera (Vitales: Vitaceae)

et al. 2015

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“…An important characteristic of our study is that plant preferences of herbivores were evaluated using conspecific plants, which only differed in aphid infestation. Neonates of the lepidopteran Lobesia botrana have also been shown to discriminate between conspecific plants with and without fungal infection, selecting diseased over healthy grapes where the larvae develop faster, while moths selected healthy grapes for oviposition (Mondy et al 1998). Conspecific plants that offer differential qualities induced by a previous attacker might provide an ideal biologically relevant experimental set‐up to study host‐plant selection by caterpillars.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Neonates know better than their mothers when selecting a host plant

Soler

Pineda

et al. 2012

Oikos

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Evolutionary ecological theory predicts that among insect herbivores ‘mothers know best’ when selecting a plant to deposit their eggs. Host‐plant selection is usually studied for the adult stage exclusively, although mothers have not always been reported to know best. Here, we investigate the host‐plant selection behaviour of caterpillars, which are considered to be completely dependent on their mothers’ choices. We use a system that offers a biologically relevant framework to compare the degree of participation of adults and juveniles in host‐plant selection. Our results show that neonate Pieris brassicae caterpillars can actively discriminate between conspecific Brassica oleracea plants with or without aphid (Brevicoryne brassicae) infestation. The caterpillars prefer aphid‐infested plants on which their performance is significantly better, while their mothers, the female butterflies, did not discriminate. We compared caterpillar preferences of individuals released individually or in groups, because P. brassicae is a gregarious species. We found that the strength of the preference for aphid‐infested plants was not affected by the degree of grouping. Caterpillar choices were made before contact with the plants, indicating that plant odours were used for orientation. However, the composition of the volatile blends emitted by plants with and without aphids did not show strong differences. Similarly, like with aphid‐infested plants, plants treated with salicylic acid (SA) were also preferred by neonates over untreated control, indicating that the infestation by aphids may have rendered the plants more attractive to the neonates via changes related to interference with JA‐signaling. The main parasitoid of the caterpillars did not discriminate between plants with hosts in the presence or absence of aphids, showing that top–down forces do not influence the relative suitability of the different food sources for the caterpillars. These data are discussed in the context of mothers and offspring having both important, but different roles in the process of host‐plant selection. Butterflies may select the plant species patch, while their offspring adjust and/or update the choices of their mothers at the local scale, within the micro‐habitat selected by the adult.

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“…Este lepidóptero ocasiona la disminución de los rendimientos debido a la destrucción de bayas. Además provoca una importante prdida de la calidad de la fruta por las heridas que produce en los granos, lo que favorece la aparición de podredumbres causadas por diversos hongos (Mondy et al, 1998;Armendariz et al, 2007). En uvas para vinificar, los residuos fúngicos generan aromas y sabores desagradables en los vinos, además de los problemas de clarificación durante el proceso de vinificación.…”

Section: Lobesiaunclassified

Life table and population parameters of Lobesia botrana (Den. et Schiff.) under laboratory conditions

Herrera¹,

Dagatti²,

Becerra³

2017

Rev. Soc. Entomol. Arg.

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Life table and population parameters of Lobesia botrana (Den. et Schiff.) under laboratory conditionsABSTRACT. Lobesia botrana Den. & Schiff. is a quarantine pest for Argentina. Its recent introduction in Mendoza requires studies of life cycle and population parameters. The aim of this work is to construct a horizontal life table, determine the demographic parameters, the average duration of the pre -reproductive, reproductive, post -reproductive periods, adult longevity, fecundity and fertility under laboratory conditions. The demographic parameters of L. botrana obtained were: intrinsic rate of increase (rm) of 0.137, net reproductive rate (Ro) of 66.82, mean generation time (T) of 30.51, finite rate of increase (λ) of 1.073, and the doubling time (D) of 9.76 days. The gross fecundity obtained (Mx) of 134.84 ± 15.68 eggs per female, the mean duration in days of pre-reproductive periods was 1 ± 0.81, the reproductive 6.25 ± 1.25 and the post-reproductive period of 2 ± 0.68, female longevity 9.25 ± 1.67 and male 8.64 ± 0.83 days.

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Mutualism between a phytopathogenic fungus (Botrytis cinerea) and a vineyard pest (Lobesia botrana). Positive effects on insect development and oviposition behaviour

Cited by 35 publications

References 18 publications

Oviposition preference and larval performance of Epiphyas postvittana (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) on Botrytis cinerea (Helotiales: Sclerotiniaceae) infected berries of Vitis vinifera (Vitales: Vitaceae)

Oviposition preference and larval performance of Epiphyas postvittana (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) on Botrytis cinerea (Helotiales: Sclerotiniaceae) infected berries of Vitis vinifera (Vitales: Vitaceae)

Neonates know better than their mothers when selecting a host plant

Life table and population parameters of Lobesia botrana (Den. et Schiff.) under laboratory conditions

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