The invention relates to a method for finding compounds which induce plant pathogen defense, the enhanced expression of individual, or a plurality of, endogenous plant genes from the group consisting of jasmonic acid biosynthesis, plant proteinase inhibitors, plant xylanase inhibitors, plant PR proteins (pathogen-related proteins) and plant chitinases being regarded as a sign that induction has taken place, and to the use of these compounds alone or in combination with known compounds which act specifically and directly against phytopathogens, it being possible to carry out the application either simultaneously or staggered.
