Susceptibility to Arthropod Pests of Mildew-Resistant Grape Varieties: What Do We Know and Where Are We Going?

Grapevine breeding has successfully developed mildew-resistant varieties, yet their susceptibility to arthropod pests remains largely unexplored. This review synthesizes current knowledge of arthropod pest interactions with mildew-resistant grapevines and compares them with those of conventional and parental varieties. Only a few studies have reported detailed information on arthropod pest susceptibility, covering 23 resistant varieties tested against seven species/groups, including Daktulosphaira vitifoliae, Lobesia botrana, Drosophila suzukii and eriophyid mites. About half of the available studies focused on berry pests—particularly the invasive D. suzukii—while leaf and root pests received little attention. In several cases, resistant varieties exhibited susceptibility levels comparable to those of their parental varieties, although the limited number of studies makes it difficult to draw clear conclusions. Overall, major knowledge gaps remain, highlighting the need for breeding programs that integrate mildew resistance with improved assessment of arthropod pest susceptibility, without compromising agronomic performance and wine quality.