Functional Contributions and Regulatory Mechanisms of Ustilago maydis in Corn Silage Fermentation

Corn smut disease, caused by the pathogenic fungus Ustilago maydis, leads to the replacement of maize ears with fungal galls under severe infection, resulting in the loss of grain yield and reduced nutritional quality in plants. Silage production has emerged as the most effective approach to enhance the nutritional value of infected maize. However, systematic studies on the molecular mechanisms by which U. maydis infection influences corn silage fermentation are currently lacking, and addressing this knowledge gap is critical to optimize the utilization of diseased maize for silage. This study focuses on U. maydis-infected maize plants from Gansu and Hebei regions in China. Metagenomic sequencing technology is employed to unravel the molecular mechanisms underlying the effects of fungal infection on microbial community structure and functional dynamics during silage fermentation. The findings will provide theoretical and practical insights into the interaction between plant disease and silage processes, offering guidance for improving silage feed production.