The Impact of Silage on the Microbial Community of Corn Rust-Infected Plants: A Metagenomic Perspective

Corn rust (Puccinia spp.) is a globally widespread fungal disease, primarily including southern rust caused by Puccinia polysora and common rust caused by Puccinia sorghi. To investigate the impact of corn rust on the microbial community during the ensiling process, this study selected infected corn plants from Gansu (common rust) and Hebei (southern rust) regions as research subjects. Metagenomic technology was employed to analyze the dynamic succession patterns of the microbial community and the changes in key metabolic functions under rust stress during ensiling. The findings will provide new theoretical insights into the interaction mechanisms between crop diseases and silage fermentation quality.