Characterisation of the interactions between Queensland fruit fly, Bactrocera tryoni, egg and larvae, and tomato fruit at the whole insect and molecular level

Fruit flies are major pests to a wide range of fruits and vegetables as their larvae cause damage and yield loss. To replace pesticide-based controls with more sustainable management approaches, we need to develop new generation technologies. This thesis focuses on molecular and whole-organism studies to investigate the interactions between Queensland fruit fly larvae and tomato fruit. Through molecular analysis, different mechanisms were identified to determine the susceptibility of various tomato varieties to fruit fly damage. The results pave the way for future studies on breeding for fruit resistance to fruit fly attack and sustainable pest management