The present invention relates to pathogen-resistant plants. In one aspect, plants comprising a heterologous expression cassette are provided, wherein the expression cassette comprises a polynucleotide that inhibits expression of a fungal pathogen gene and wherein the plant has increased resistance to a fungal pathogen or multiple pathogens compared to a control plant lacking the expression cassette. In another aspect, contacting a plant or a plant part with double stranded RNAs or small RNAs that inhibit expression of a fungal target gene or genes from multiple pathogens, wherein the plant has increased resistance to a pathogen or multiple pathogens compared to control plants that has not been contacted with the RNAs. Methods of making and cultivating pathogen-resistant plants are also provided.
