The invention relates to plants with increased levels of triterpene saponins. The plant may have an increased activity of at least one oxidosqualene cyclase that catalyzes the cyclization of 2,3-oxidosqualene to form a cyclyzed triterpene. The plant may be transformed with at least one recombinant DNA molecule comprising a promoter operably linked to at least one polynucleotide encoding an oxidosqualene cyclase, said recombinant DNA molecule sufficient to increase production of a triterpene saponin; or any progeny of said plant, wherein said progeny comprise said recombinant DNA molecule.