Comparative transcriptome analysis reveals conserved defense responses in maize and sorghum to Setosphaeria turcica

The goal of this study was to examine the transcriptional response of maize and sorghum during compatible and incompatible interactions with Setosphaeria turcica. Greenhouse-grown maize and sorghum were inoculated with maize-specific S. turcica (Et28A), sorghum-specific S. turcica (15St008) or a mock treatment. Interactions are classified as compatible when the plant was inoculated with an isolate from that host (ie. maize and Et28A) and incompatible when a plant was inoculated with a strain that was isolated from a different host. Two timepoints were sampled- 24 and 48 hours after inoculation.