## 4 Discussion
### Exploring Network Regulation for Resistance to SCR  
Transcriptomic analysis reveals significant differences in gene expression between the resistant and susceptible lines (N531_R and N531_S). This highlights the crucial roles in pathogen defense, the synthesis of defense-related substances, and the regulation of cellular homeostasis [50]. During the early stages of pathogen infection, the balance within plant cells is disrupted. This disruption increases MDA levels, elevates concentrations of ROS such as H\({}_{2}\)O\({}_{2}\), and heightens defense enzyme activity [51]. In the susceptible line N531_S, the lack of a resistance (R) gene prevents pathogen effector recognition. Consequently, this results in significantly higher levels of ROS and other stress markers compared to the resistant line N531_R. This differential response underscores the importance of the R gene for activating defense mechanisms that mitigate oxidative stress and enhance resistance to pathogen invasion. In this study, we assessed both whether the key candidate gene _Zmays10G000440_ confers resistance to SCR and whether a number of key candidate genes exhibit similar expression patterns, finding two genes directly related to the disease resistance effect (_Zmays01G042730_ and _Zmays01G009610_).  
The gene _Zmays01G042730_, which is similar to _AtPRL1_ (a WD40-containing protein), has been identified as a crucial pleiotropic regulator of plant defense responses against both bacterial and fungal pathogens. It plays a significant role in the signaling pathways associated with plant resistance. Research indicates that the knockout or mutation of this gene increases plants' susceptibility to pathogen infections, highlighting its importance in maintaining plant health [39]. The expression of _Zmays01G042730_ is rapidly induced, likely driven by the activity of resistance (R) genes. This rapid response is critical for initiating defense mechanisms. Additionally, the increased activity of catalase (CAT) and peroxidase (POD) oxidases contributes to the maintenance of cellular homeostasis by effectively managing oxidative stress. The significant increase in proline content further mitigates excessive reactive oxygen species accumulation, thus protecting the plant from oxidative damage during pathogen attacks. This coordinated response underscores the essential role of _Zmays01G042730_ in enhancing resistance and maintaining cellular integrity under stress conditions. The representative heat shock protein _Zmays01G009610_, classified as HSP40, is a conserved protein known for its robust cellular protective functions. This protein plays a multifaceted role in plant signal transduction, growth, development, and responses to environmental stresses, including heat [37; 38]. The overexpression of HSP40 has been shown to enhance antioxidant enzyme activity in the chloroplasts of _Arabidopsis_, thereby reducing damage caused by drought and high-temperature stresses and improving overall stress resistance. Our transcriptomic data align well with physiological and biochemical findings, demonstrating that plants can effectively mitigate potential yield losses during disease outbreaks by expressing specific disease resistance genes. This coordinated response enhances the plant's ability to activate defense mechanisms, ultimately improving resilience against pathogens. By understanding these relationships, we can better leverage resistance genes in breeding programs to develop crops that maintain productivity even under disease pressure.  
Our study identified two candidate genes in the _RppSLN_ locus, namely _Zmays10G000430_ and _Zmays10G000440_. Future studies will focus on functional assays of these genes to validate their role in SCR resistance. In future research, we will focus on exploring the role of _Zmays10G000430_ in downstream functions.