Abstract: This invention is related to a double mutant plant line that harbors impaired NRC4a (NLR required for cell death) and NRC4b genes. The said double mutant plant has an increased defense response and a reduction in disease levels compared to a non-mutated or a single mutation mutated plant of the same population. This invention is also related to the method for increasing a plant defense response and for reducing plant diseases levels, comprised by (a) configuring one or more nucleic acid sequences to target and impair at least two plant NRC (NLR required for cell death) or NRC ortholog genes, (b) applying a gene editing process utilizing said one or more nucleic acid sequences, (c) obtaining at least one double mutant plant line, harboring two impaired NRC (NLR required for cell death) genes, and (d) growing said plant.

Abstract: This invention is related to a mutated plant line that harbors an impaired LeEIX1 (Lycopersicon esculentum ethylene inducing xylanase receptor 1) gene. The said mutated plant has an increased defense response and a reduction in disease levels upon pathogen exposure compared to a non-mutated plant of the same population. This invention is also related to the method for increasing a plant defense response and for reducing plant diseases levels, comprised by (a) designing at least one nucleic acid sequence configured to targeting and impairing a plant's LeEIX1 gene, (b) applying a gene editing process utilizing said at least one nucleic acid sequence, (c) obtaining at least one mutant plant line, harboring an impaired LeEIX1 gene, (d) growing said plant, and (e) inoculating said plant with at least one bacterial biological control agent.