The present invention provides isolated regulatory sequences or promoters for plant genes that encode phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL) in potato or rice. The promoters are inducible by exogenous elicitor(s) and/or wounding, and are capable of regulating transcription of associated DNA sequences in chimeric plant cells, tissues and plants that contain the chimeric constructs. The invention provides chimeric potato and rice PAL constructions, transgenic potato and rice plant cells, plant tissues and transgenic plants that contain them. The chimeric constructions and transgenic plant materials are useful in agrichemical assays. The invention also provides a method for identifying inducible plant defense genes and promoters. In addition, the invention provides a method for identifying agrichemicals that can induce plant defense genes, especially agrichemicals which induce these plant gene regulatory elements immediately or very soon after exposure. Finally, the invention provides a method for identifying organisms which can induce plant defense gene regulatory elements.
