High-resolution transcript analysis of the defense responses to Colletotrichum graminicola infection in maize genotypes with contrasting anthracnose resistance

Anthracnose caused by the ascomycete Colletotrichum graminicola is one of the most severe fungal diseases of Zea maize. Cultivars with different levels of resistance have been described. However, which genes contribute to cultivar-specific constitutive and/or induced defense in this economically important pathosystem is still elusive. Transcriptome analyses of infected maize leaves of varieties Golden Jubilee (GJ) and B73 by RNA-Seq was performed for the penetration, biotrophic and necrotrophic phases.

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