Metagenomic insights into effects of epiphytic microbiota from C3 forages on bacterial community compositions and their functional characteristics in C4 forage silage

To investigate the microbial factors that result in the variations in silage quality between C3 and C4 forages, this study assessed the effects of epiphytic microbiota from C3 forages (Italian ryegrass and oat) on fermentative products, bacterial community and their functional characteristics in C4 forage (whole-crop maize) silage.