Involved in disease resistance response (PubMed:16115070, PubMed:19625399). May function as repressor of pathogenesis-related proteins (PubMed:16115070). May function in the regulation of host basal defense responses against viral infection (PubMed:19625399). Transcriptional activator involved in responses to wounding and infection with tobamovirus (TMV) (PubMed:22937923). Binds to the DNA sequences 5'-AAAATATCT-3' and 5'AGATTTTT-3' of CYP734A1/BAS1 and CYP72C1/SOB7 promoters, respectively. Acts as suppressor of the brassinosteroid (BR)-inactivating enzymes CYP734A1/BAS1 and CYP72C1/SOB7, and prevents their expression in almost all tissues. Plays a central role in integrating BR homeostasis and seedling development. Regulates the spatial regulation of BR homeostasis and participates in the regulation of hypocotyl elongation and root growth by suppressing BR catabolism. Mediates connection between BR catabolism and photomorphogenesis (PubMed:26493403). Binds to, and transactivates the promoter of the auxin biosynthetic gene NIT2 (PubMed:22965747). Stress-responsive NAC transcription factor involved in ABA-inducible leaf senescence signaling (PubMed:26518251). Required for normal seed development and morphology (PubMed:18849494). Homodimer (PubMed:22937923). Interacts with AHK2 (PubMed:18642946). Interacts with AHL12 and AHL27 (PubMed:24218605). Interacts with the helicase domain of the tobamovirus (TMV) replicase (PubMed:19625399). Expressed in roots, cotyledons, rosette leaves, cauline leaves and mature flowers. Expressed at low levels in stems and flower buds. Induced by wounding, salicylic acid (SA), methyl jasmonate, drought stress, dark and sucrose starvation (PubMed:16115070). Induced by chitin elicitor (chitooctaose) (PubMed:17722694). Induced by salicylic acid and infection with tobamovirus (TMV) (PubMed:19625399). By indole-3-acetonitrile, salicylic acid (SA), sodium nitroprusside (SNP), salt stress and drought stress (PubMed:22965747). Down-regulated by brassinosteroid (BR) and transition from dark to white light (PubMed:26493403). The NAC domain includes a DNA-binding domain and a dimerization domain. Reduced sensitivity to indole-3-acetonitrile. Plants over-expressing NAC081 show enhanced susceptibility to the necrotrophic fungal pathogen Fusarium oxysporum (PubMed:16115070). Plants over-expressing NAC081 exhibit abnormal developmental phenotypes such as dwarfism and leaf-yellowing (PubMed:22965747). Plants silencing NAC081 produce abnormally shaped seeds (PubMed:18849494). Truncated N-terminus.