Transcriptional repressor that negatively regulates the expression of genes involved in pectinolysis and in pectinase secretion. Controls genes involved in pectin catabolism, including the pectinase genes (pelA, pelB, pelC, pelE), genes involved in pectin catabolism (kdgT, ogl, kduI-kdgF) and the outT gene involved in pectinase secretion. Acts by binding directly to KdgR binding sites (KdgR-box) in the gene operator/promoter region