A method for increasing resistance against fungal pathogens of the order Pucciniales, preferably the family Phacopsoraceae, in plants and/or plant cells. This is achieved by increasing the expression of a HCP4 protein or fragment thereof in a plant, plant part and/or plant cell in comparision to wild type plants, wild type plant parts and/or wild type plant cells. Further provided are transgenic plants, plant parts, and/or plant cells having an increased resistance against fungal pathogens, in particular, pathogens of the order Pucciniales, preferably the family Phacopsoraceae. Recombinant expression vectors comprising a sequence that is identical or homologous to a sequence encoding a HCP4 protein are also provided.
