The invention relates to the use of at least one compound selected from the class of the sulphoximines for enhancing plants intrinsic defenses and/or for improving plant growth and/or for enhancing the resistance of plants to plant diseases which are caused by fungi, bacteria, viruses, MLOs (mycoplasma-like organisms) and/or RLOs (rickettsia-like organisms), and/or for enhancing the resistance of plants to abiotic stress factors.