EN
Cereal grain and legume seeds contain the proteins revealing inhibitory activity towards the alpha-amylases of various origin. Plant inhibitors of exogenous alpha-amylases act as the inhibitors of insects' growth and possibly as plant defense proteins. On the other hand the proteins which are inhibiting endogenous amylases are thought to affect the processes of germination, seed maturation and also the preharvest sprouting. Presented results seem to open the way to utilize the genes encoding these proteins for genetical improving the resistance of cereals and other plants towards field and storage pests and preharvest sprouting. Nutritive role of these proteins and their possible applications in biochemical, medical analytics are also discussed.