The present invention is directed to a Blec plant promoter sequence of SEQUENCE ID NO: 1. A method of transforming plants with a Blec promoter-gene construct is also within the scope of the present invention. The present invention is also directed to cells comprising a Blec promoter-gene construct, plasmids and vectors comprising a Blec promoter-gene construct and the constructs per se comprising a Blec promoter and a gene. A plant extract comprising all or part of the Blec promoter sequence and a gene under control of said promoter and a method of transcribing nucleic acids comprising an extract having all or part of the Blec promoter sequence and a gene under control of said promoter are also within the scope of the present invention.
