Transcriptional Profile revealed that ZmERF061 participated in response to pathogens and various stresses

ERF transcription factors, ZmERF061, enhanced the resistance of maize to Exserohilum turcicum (E. turcicum). To reveal the mechanism of ZmERF061 in response to pathogens and diverse stresses in maize, the GO and KEGG analysis of zmerf061 mutant lines and W22 were performed by transcriptomic sequencing. A total of 938 DEGs, comprising 150 up-regulated and 788 down-regulated genes, were found in zmerf061 mutant lines and W22. According to the GO enrichment and KEGG enrichment analyses, DEGs were primarily engaged in catalytic activity, sulfate adenylyltransferase activity, folding sorting and degradation and signal transmission and metabolic processes. The KEGG pathway revealed that DEGs were found in MAPK signaling pathway-plant, plant-pathogen interaction pathway and sulfur metabolism pathway. In conclusion, ZmERF061 was involved in many stimuli, including pathogens, cold stress and salt stress.