Transcriptional response of sweet sorghum lines varying in resistance to stalk rot pathogens

Sweet sorghum is grown for forage, fuel, and sweetener. Stalk rots caused by Fusarium thapsinum (Fusarium stalk rot) and Macrophomina phaseolina (charcoal rot) can significantly impact yields and quality. This study compared responses to wound inoculation with each fungus, and the control, of two lines, at two timepoints. The two lines differed in responses to stalk rots: Colman is susceptible while M81-E, a line with potential for use in bioenergy, is moderately resistant.