No abstract

The heterothallic ascomycete Setosphaeria turcica (anamorph Exserohilum turcicum) is a fungal pathogen of corn (Zea mays) and causal agent of northern corn leaf blight (NCLB). NCLB has spread worldwide, especially in northern China, and is one of the most important corn diseases (Abera et al., 2016;Dong et al., 2008). The emergence of NCLB before anthesis in corn may result in significant yield losses of susceptible varieties. The occurrence of NCLB depends on the successful invasion of pathogenic fungi. Upon contact with the host surface, the pathogen develops appressoria to penetrate the epidermal cells of plants. The main infection process of S. turcica includes conidia germination, germ tube formation, appressoria development and maturation, and penetration peg invasion. Pathogenic