Tar spot susceptibility of corn influences phyllosphere-associated bacterial and fungal microbiomes.

ABSTRACT: Tar spot, caused by the obligate fungal pathogen Phyllachora maydis, is a major economic concern for corn producers in the United States. To test the hypothesis that P. maydis can interact with other foliar microorganisms, we investigated phyllosphere microbiomes in relation to corn inbreds with differential tar spot symptoms under natural field infestation. Sixteen inbred lines were assessed for tar spot symptoms, and bacterial and fungal microbiomes were characterized using Illumina MiSeq Sequencing. Comparison of the phyllosphere microbiomes revealed distinct bacterial and fungal communities between resistant and susceptible lines in a sample-specific manner. Bacterial alpha diversity did not differ significantly between susceptible and resistant lines, while fungal divers

SUBMITTER: Singh R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12537778 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature