Plants exhibit a variety of responses during infection by pathogens, insects, or abiotic stresses, many of which involve the activation of host defense genes. Activation of these genes leads to physical and biochemical changes in plant cells which are not favourable for damage progress in plant. Among the major biochemical changes are biosynthesis and the accumulation of inducible defenserelated proteins. Most of these proteins correspond to pathogenesis-related proteins (PRs). Root rot of sugar beet, caused by the destructive soil borne fungus Rhizoctonia solani intraspecific groups AG2-2 IIIB and AG2-2 IV, is one of the most important and destructive diseases of this crop causing high yield losses worldwide every year. Therefore, understanding the mechanisms involved in basal resistance of sugar beet against this pathogen is necessary to plan better strategies for disease management.

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