The invention relates to recombinant DNA constructs comprising a nucleotide sequence encoding a polypeptide capable of conferring or enhancing resistance to northern leaf blight and maize cells, plants or seeds comprising the same. The invention also relates to methods of conferring or improving resistance to northern leaf blight or altering the level of expression of a protein capable of conferring resistance to northern leaf blight in a maize cell or plant by transformation of a maize cell using the recombinant DNA construct of the invention.