Transgenic expression of archaea superoxide reductase

This invention provides a stably transformed plant, plant part and/or plant cell, comprising a heterologous polynucleotide encoding a superoxide reductase (SOR) from an archaeon species, wherein said stably transformed plant, plant cell, and/or plant part has increased disease resistance. The invention further provides a method of increasing disease resistance in a plant, plant cell, or plant part, comprising: introducing into said plant, plant cell, or plant part a heterologous polynucleotide encoding a superoxide reductase from an archaeon species to produce a stably transformed plant, plant cell, or plant part, thereby producing a plant, plant part, or plant cell having increased disease resistance as compared to a control. Additionally provided are plants, plant parts, and plant cells produced by the methods of the invention, as well as progeny and products produced therefrom.