Molecular Pathogens, 2025, Vol.16, No.6, 276-284 http://microbescipublisher.com/index.php/mp 279 are introduced, the performance of corn becomes more stable. It can not only resist diseases but also will not affect normal growth due to enhanced resistance (Liu et al., 2020). These phenomena indicate that salt stress is not merely physical pressure; it may also have a domino effect. The interaction between immune responses and metabolic regulation might be the key to determining whether corn can "withstand" it. Figure 1 Experimental workflow (Adopted from Ullah et al., 2025) 5 Integrated Molecular and Microbial Mechanisms of Maize Resistance to Root Rot 5.1 Expression profiles of disease-resistant genes and transcription factors Not all resistance responses are globally initiated. In many cases, corn begins to respond through certain specific genes at the early stage of root rot infection. Regulatory factors such as ZmHIR3, ZmBAK1, WRKY and NAC are often upregulated in strains with stronger resistance, thereby triggering a series of immune responses, such as the release of reactive oxygen species (ROS), the activation of the PTI pathway, and even regulating programmed cell death (Lanubile et al., 2017; Xie et al., 2025). And these reactions are not a matter of a single path. Studies at the single-cell level have revealed that certain specific types of cells play a core role in regulation, involving not only immunity but also multiple mechanisms including auxin, salicylic acid pathways and MAPK signaling (Cao et al., 2023). These regulatory responses often come quickly and intensively, which is a typical characteristic of resistant varieties. 5.2 Association between rhizosphere microbiota and enhanced disease resistance Apart from the genetic background of corn itself, the microorganisms around the rhizosphere are not "spectators" either. Among corn strains with outstanding disease resistance, the quantities of "friendly" microorganisms such as Bacillus, Streptomyces and Bacillus are often higher. On the one hand, they can trigger the induced system resistance (ISR) of plants themselves; on the other hand, they can also alleviate diseases by directly opposing pathogenic bacteria (Wang et al., 2024). Interestingly, from the perspective of the network, the connections among these microorganisms are also closer and more active, which to some extent builds a "microbial protection circle" for disease-resistant corn. That is to say, to enhance the root rot resistance of corn, it may not only be necessary to improve the plant itself, but also to manage the "circle of friends" around the roots.
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