The present invention relates to an allele designated alpha-WOLF 8 which confers resistance to at least one Peronospora farinosa f. Sp. spinacea race, wherein the protein encoded by said allele is a CC-NBS-LRR protein that may comprise in its amino acid sequence: a) the motif “MAEIGYSVC” at its N-terminus; and b) the motif “KWMCLR”; and wherein the LRR domain of the protein has in order of increased preference at least 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99%, 100% sequence similarity to SEQ ID No:12. When the allele is homozygously present in a spinach plant confers complete resistance to Peronospora farinosa f. Sp. spinacea races pfs:1, pfs:2, pfs:6, pfs:8 and pfs:15, and confers intermediate resistance to pfs:5, pfs:10 and pfs:16, and does not confer resistance to pfs:3, pfs:4, pfs:7, pfs:9, pfs:11, pfs:12, pfs:13 and pfs:14.