Transcriptomics Analysis of Maize (Zea mays L.) in Response to the Infection by Setosphaeria turcica

Northern corn leaf blight (NCLB), caused by Setosphaeria turcica (S. turcica), is one of the devastating foliar diseases of maize (Zea mays) in maize-producing regions globally. Previous research has predominantly centered on elucidating the infection strategy and process of the pathogen, but the molecular mechanism of maize response to the pathogen is still largely unknown. In this study, we employed transcriptomics technology to comprehensively analyze alterations in RNA expression profiles within maize leaves at critical time points (hours post-infestation, 24 hpi, and 72 hpi) during S. turcica infection. Our study identified 7196 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) involved in the maize leaf response to S. turcica infection compared to the control (CK at 0 hpi). Functional analysis revealed that these DEGs were enriched in multiple metabolic pathways. Notably, genes associated with “benzoxazinone biosynthesis”, “tetracyclic pyrrole biosynthesis”, and “photosynthesis” were all down-regulated. In contrast, DEGs related to “phenol metabolism” and “phenylpropanoid metabolism” were significantly upregulated. Moreover, the genes belonging to the NAC, MYB-related, HB, and WRKY transcription factor families were also significantly enriched among the DEGs. The expression levels of six randomly selected DEGs were validated using qRT-PCR, confirming the accuracy of the RNA-Seq findings. This study delves into the functional genes and metabolic pathways closely associated with maize’s response to S. turcica infection, providing foundational data for a deeper understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying the interaction between S. turcica and maize.