Exploring the interaction of susceptible and tolerant Inbred lines of Corn (Zea mays L.) with Clavibacter michiganensis subsp nebraskensis, the causal agent of Goss’s Wilt

Two corn lines, CO447 and CO450, screened as susceptible and tolerant to Goss’s wilt, respectively, were inoculated with Clavibacter michiganensis subsp nebraskensis (CMN) isolates possessing different levels of aggressiveness. Both inoculated and control plants were scored over a 10-day period for lesion length, disease severity, and Total AUDPC. Total AUDPC calculation was based on lesion length over time, and the disease severity progress exhibited statistical differences between the two corn lines with all of the tested isolates. The highly aggressive CMN isolates (CMN14-5-1 and CMN15-18-2) produced severe symptoms in corn line CO447, which started with water soaked areas, and rapidly developed into necrotic lesions. However, these isolates produced less severe symptoms on corn line CO450, which exhibited chlorosis with small necrotic lesions that did not progress beyond the initial 4 dai lesion size.Statistical differences amongst the tested isolates within and across the two corn lines were significant. Based on the results produced by these experiments, analysis of gene expression and metabolomics will be performed on thetested treatments in order to explore potential resistance determinants among the two corn lines.