Expression of DNA sequences in a preferred manner in the roots of a plant is often desirable. For instance improved resistance to soil-borne pathogens may be attained by expression of a pathogen resistance gene in a part of the plant such as the root that may be the site of infection. It is therefore desirable to develop tissue-preferred promoters that are capable of directing the expression in a preferred manner in plant roots, of another DNA sequence that is operably linked to the promoter sequence. Further, it is desirable to have access to multiple promoters with similar expression patterns since these may differ with respect to their degree of successful applicability in different plant species where such expression may be desired. Here we describe the isolation and analysis of a DNA sequence from the upstream regulatory region of the At1g73160 gene of Arabidopsis. The said DNA sequence acts as a root-preferred promoter by conferring root-preferred expression of the GUS reporter gene cloned immediately downstream. Composition of the invention comprises a novel DNA sequence for a root-preferred promoter and the method comprises incorporation into the genome of a plant or plant cell, a DNA sequence operably linked to the said root-preferred promoter.