The Pheromone-Regulated Membrane Protein CsPRM10 Plays an Essential Role in the Asexual Reproduction of the Pepper Anthracnose Fungus Colletotrichum scovillei

The phytopathogenic fungus Colletotrichum scovillei causes a destructive anthracnose on pepper fruit worldwide. Conidiation plays an essential role in the dissemination of pathogenic fungi, yet the regulatory mechanisms underlying this process remain largely unknown. In this study, a pheromone-regulated membrane protein 10 (PRM10) was identified in C. scovillei, whose function has not been characterized in fungal plant pathogens previously. The targeted gene deletion mutant (ΔCsprm10) was normal in plant infection but showed a decrease in surface hydrophobicity compared to the wild-type strain. Notably, ΔCsprm10 was completely defective in conidiation. A microscopic observation further confirmed that ΔCsprm10 failed to form conidiophores, suggesting that CsPRM10 plays an essential role in the conidiation of C. scovillei by regulating conidiophore development. The transcriptomic analysis indicated that the loss of CsPRM10 caused differential expressions of genes related to membrane-associated processes and nuclear functions. Taken together, these findings suggest that CsPRM10 acts as a novel regulator of conidiation in C. scovillei and provide new insights into the molecular basis of fungal asexual development.