Abstract: Nucleic acid sequences and methods for their use are provided for obtaining plants with inducible phenotypes, including novel or enhanced resistance to infection and stress. Novel nucleic acid constructs are provided, which include a transcriptional initiation region from a pathogen inducible-rapid response grape stilbene synthase gene, a DNA sequence of interest and a transcriptional termination region. The constructs are used to prepare expression cassettes which may then be introduced into plants and portions thereof for modulation of expression of endogenous products as well as production of exogenous products in the plant.