Promoters which increase the pathogen-inducibility of genes in plants, preferably in sugar beets, rape, potatoes, corn, soybeans, wheat, rice, rye, barley, cotton and sunflower. The promoters are characterized in that they lead to the rapid local expression of the gene respectively under the control thereof in different organs and tissues of transgenic plants such as leaves, shoots and/or roots, after having been infected by a pathogen or wounded. This attribute makes these sequences ideal for use as a regulation element for the controlled expression of antifungal compounds and thus for developing fungus-resistant plants.