The influence of irradiation by electrons with energies of 0.5...2.5MeV at temperatures of about 10K on the basal-plane resistivity of the YBa₂Cu₃O₇− single crystals is investigated in the range from Tc to 300K. The resistivity temperature dependence is determined by defects arising due to the irradiation. These defects directly affect the superconducting transition, decreasing Tc and increasing the transition width without significant distortions of its shape. The resulting defects also lead to an increase in the Debye temperature due to a reduction of the anisotropy, and a noticeable increase in the scattering by phonons in the sample. The excess conductivity does not change with the irradiation used.