Microbiome dynamics during ensiling of corn with and without <italic>Lactobacillus plantarum</italic> inoculant.

Microbial population dynamics associated with corn silage, with and without <italic>Lactobacillus plantarum</italic> treatment, was studied. Whole crop corn was ensiled using laboratory silos and sampled at different times, up to 3 months. The dominant bacteria, before ensiling, were <italic>Acinetobacter</italic> (38.5%) and <italic>Klebsiella</italic> (16.3%), while the dominant fungi were <italic>Meyerozyma</italic> (53.5%) and <italic>Candida</italic> (27.7%). During ensiling, the microbial population shifted considerably, and <italic>Lactobacillus</italic> (> 94%) and <italic>Candida</italic> (> 74%) became the most dominant microbial genera in both treated and untreated silages. Yet, lactic acid content was higher in the treated silage, while the microbial diversity was lower than in the untreated silage. Upon aerobic exposure, spoilage occurred more rapidly in the treated silage, possibly due to the higher abundance of lactic acid-assimilating fungi, such as <italic>Candida</italic>. Our study is the first to describe microbial population dynamics during whole-crop corn ensiling and the results indicate that microbial diversity may be an indicator of aerobic stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]