A gene with domains related to transcription regulation is required for pathogenicity in Colletotrichum acutatum causing Key lime anthracnose

SUMMARY Colletotrichum acutatum causes Key lime anthracnose (KLA) and postbloom fruit drop (PFD) of citrus. We utilized restriction enzyme‐mediated integration (REMI) mutagenesis to produce six non‐pathogenic mutants from a KLA isolate after screening 1064 transformants on detached Key lime leaves. Subsequently, a gene designated KLAP1 ( K ey L ime A nthracnose P athogenicity) was identified from one of the mutants and was demonstrated genetically to be required for pathogenicity to Key lime leaves. The predicted polypeptide encoded by KLAP1 contains a cAMP and cGMP‐dependent protein kinase phosphorylation site, and two RGD (Arg–Gly–Asp) cell attachment sequences, a bipartite nuclear targeting sequence, a fungal G‐protein alpha subunit signature, a putative metal‐binding zinc finger (Cys 2 His 2 ) and a putative HMG‐I/Y (‘high mobility group’ non‐histone chromatin protein encoding genes) DNA‐binding domain (A+T hook), suggesting that KLAP1 may function as a transcription activator in C. acutatum . Sequences homologous to KLAP1 were detected in most C. acutatum isolates examined, and similarity was found in several classes of fungi, animals, plants and bacteria, indicating that KLAP1 is a putative, uncharacterized, conserved transcription activator in fungi. Targeted gene disruption of KLAP1 yielded mutants that were blocked in the penetration stage and were completely defective in pathogenicity on Key lime leaves, but remained pathogenic to flower petals. Complementation of a klap1 ‐null mutant with a full‐length KLAP1 gene clone restored complete ability to incite lesions on Key lime. The results indicate that KLAP1 is an important pathogenicity factor in C. acutatum .