Four EXPANSIN (EXPs) and two LATERAL ORGAN BOUNDARIES DOMAIN (LBDs) genes are activated in Beet necrotic yellow vein virus (BNYVV)‐susceptible, but not BNYVV‐resistant, sugar beet varieties, whereas BvLBD29 and six EXPs are up‐regulated in both susceptible and resistant varieties, by natural soil‐mediated infection with BNYVV. (a) Phenotypes of three different varieties (BNYVV‐susceptible, as well as varieties harbouring Rz1 or Rz2 resistance genes) grown in soil infested with BNYVV for 6 weeks. (b) Expression of BvEXLA1a, BvEXLA1b, BvEXPA4L, BvEXPA7, BvLBD16 and BvLBD18 in sugar beet BNYVV‐susceptible vs. BNYVV‐resistant varieties harbouring Rz1 or Rz2 resistance genes at 6 weeks post sowing (wps). (c) Expression of six EXPs and BvLBD29 induced by BNYVV in both susceptible and resistant varieties at 6 wps. Bars represent means ± standard deviation (n ≥ 4).