ases ("a. strictum" elicitor subtilisin; ) protein is an extracellular elicitor protein produced by "a. strictum" that provides complete systemic protection against anthracnose, cause by the fungal species "colletotrichum", in the natural host "fragaria ananassa" as well as the non-natural host "arabidopsis thaliana". anthracnose can affect all plant tissues, and appears as irregular and black leaf spot, flower blight, and fruit and crown rot, which results in serious losses in plant and fruit production. ases has proteolytic activity that appears to elicit an immune response in these species that results in the accumulation of reactive oxygen species and the expression of defence related genes like pr1 and chi2-1. because it has been shown to provide the same systemic protection in non-natural hosts, this natural metabolite of "a. strictum" may be considered as a possible strategy for controlling anthracnose disease in plants.