Promotes cuticle formation by inducing the expression of enzymes involved in wax biosynthesis. Probably acts as a transcriptional activator. Binds to the GCC-box pathogenesis-related promoter element. May be involved in the regulation of gene expression by stress factors and by components of stress signal transduction pathways (By similarity). In flowers. The SHN2 gene shows a pattern of expression associated with anther and silique dehiscence. Expressed in the stomium region when tapetum degeneration is initiated in the anther. Up to anthesis and until stamens fell off the senescing flower, restricted to the anther dehiscence zone. Subsequently, when petals and sepals withered, found at the bottom of each valve. During silique development, strongly expressed along the valve margin-replum boundary. Belongs to the AP2/ERF transcription factor family. ERF subfamily.