Variation in cutinase from two populations of Colletotrichum gloeosporioides from citrus

Strains belonging to two distinct genetic populations of Colletotrichum gloeosporioides from citrus all secreted esterases with cutinolytic activity when induced with cutin monomers. The molecular weights of the two major serine esterases detected after active-site labeling with 3H-di-isofluorophosphate were correlated with the genetic population of the strain. One population of strains, SGO (slow growing, orange-colored), secreted 26- and 19-kDa esterases, whereas the second population of strains, FGG (fast growing, gray-colored), secreted 24- and 21-kDa esterases. A DNA probe containing the cutinase gene from an isolate of C. gloeosporioides from papaya hybridized strongly to DNA from FGG strains but hybridized poorly or not at all to SGO strains. Thus, distinct cutinase genes may be present in the two types of C. gloeosporioides from citrus.