Method of increasing resistance to a fungal pathogen by applying a hydrophobin to a plant

A method for preventing, reducing, or delaying Phakopsora infection in a plant, plant part, or plant cell, the method comprising:

• applying a hydrophobin protein or a hydrophobin fusion protein to a surface of a soybean plant, soybean plant part or soybean plant cell, wherein the hydrophobin protein or the hydrophobin fusion protein comprises an amino acid sequence with at least 80% identity with SEQ ID NO:
• 10, 43, or 44;
• and
• growing the soybean plant, soybean plant part, or soybean plant cell in the presence of a fungal pathogen of the genus Phakopsora, wherein Phakopsora infection is prevented, reduced, or delayed in the soybean plant, soybean plant part, or soybean plant cell as compared to a plant, plant part, or plant cell to which surface the hydrophobin protein or the hydrophobin fusion protein has not been applied.