usage of "As to whether"

In this sentence: " Often there’s a race betw­een the healing and the disease as to whether the tree will live or die."
What does “as to whether” mean?
Thank you in advance.

Can any one help me?

Hi Sophie

In your sentence, the phrase ‘as to’ means ‘with regard to’ or ‘with respect to’.

So, in your sentence, ‘a race as to whether’ basically means that there is a race with respect to two alternatives: Will the tree live, or will the tree die?
.

Well, I just complicate the matter. Thank you very much.