The present invention relates to plant proteins produced by a plant's epidermal layer that contribute to the innate pest/disease resistance of the plant ("phylloplanins`), compositions comprising the phylloplanins and methods of using the them. In particular the methods relate to inhibiting or prevent microbial, e.g., fungal or bacterial, growth on a subject, organism or surface, particularly inhibiting or preventing spoilage of food products due to microbial infection and growth. The invention also relates to transformed host cells that produce the phylloplanins, and to transgenic plants producing phylloplanins conferring increased resistance to microbial infections/growth.