Methods for increasing resistance in plants to pathogens by the expression
of a hydrogen peroxide/reactive oxygen species producing enzyme or an
oxalate degrading enzyme. The present invention relates to a method of
producing a pathogen resistant hybrid plant by crossing the appropriate
transgenic expressing a hydrogen peroxide/reactive oxygen species
producing enzyme or an oxalate degrading enzyme with pathogen tolerant
lines or inbreds obtained through conventional genetic manipulations, or
by transformation of tolerant plants or plant tissues with a hydrogen
peroxide/reactive oxygen species producing gene or by altering the
expression of an endogenase hydrogen peroxide/reactive oxygen species
producing gene. The synergistic effect of expression of a hydrogen
peroxide/reactive oxygen species producing enzyme or an oxalate degrading
enzyme in a tolerant background gives significant and unexpectedly high
resistance to the pathogens.