The present invention generally provides methods to generate broad-spectrum resistance to Xanthomonas pathogenic bacteria in plants. The invention relates to nucleic acid sequences identified, which are associated with broad spectrum disease resistance including Xa1, an NBS-LRR (Nucleotide Binding Site-Leucine-Rich Repeats) type R gene in rice (SEQ ID NOS: 1 and 2) and Xa1 homolog gene, Xa2, (SEQ ID NOS: 3 and 4) and homologs thereof. Further, novel iTALE (interfering transcription activator-like effectors), have also been identified, for example, iTAL3a (SEQ ID NOS: 5 and 6) and iTAL3b (SEQ ID NOS: 7 and 8) and homologs thereof. Modulation of these proteins can improve disease resistance in plants.
