The present invention relates to an improved plant resistant to Helminthosporium turcicum, especially a maize plant, which comprises a polynucleotide having one or more resistance-conferring genes, for example on a truncated chromosome fragment from the accession Pepitilla, and to a cell, a tissue, a part, grain and seed thereof, an isolated polynucleotide comprising one or more genes conferring resistance to Helminthosporium turcicum, a vector, and a transgenic plant cell and a transgenic plant, both containing said polynucleotide. The invention also relates to suitable labels and the use thereof for introducing resistance or the transgene into a plant, and to the identification of improved maize plants comprising a truncated chromosome fragment.