Eugenol targets laccase Cglac4 to subvert the pathogenicity of Colletotrichum gloeosporioides and control the postarvest fruit anthracnose

Eugenol has a high antifungal activity against filamentous fungi, so it is essential to elucidate the underlying mechanisms of eugenol controling disease. However, the mechanism underlying the target protein of eugenol is largely unclear. Here, we revealed that eugenol efficiently suppressed the growth and development of Colletotrichum gloeosporioides , the pathogen of postharvest fruit anthracnose, which caused significant economic losses. Moreover, we identified the target protein of eugenol in C. gloeosporioides-Cglac4 , which positively regulated pathogenicity via inhibited the conidial germination and appressorium formation. Taken together, the identification of the eugenol-Cglac4 pair module not only illustrates a novel mechanism by which eugenol subvert the laccase activity of C. gloeosporioides to orchestrate the pathogenicity but also provides a potential application in the green management of postharvest anthracnose. • Eugenol has a fungicidal effect against Colletotrichum gloeosporioides . • CRISPR/Cas9-mediated in situ complementation is applied to filamentous fungi. • Cglac4 is a potential target of eugenol against C. gloeosporioides . • Cglac4 regulates the pathogenicity of C. gloeosporioides .