MYB-type transcription factor involved in epidermal cell fate specification. Acts as a negative regulator of trichome development, by mediating lateral inhibition. Promotes the formation of hair developing cells in H position in root epidermis, probably by inhibiting non-hair cell formation. Interacts with GL3. Expressed in stomatal guard mother cells, young stomata and trichomes of young leaves, and inflorescences. Overexpression of ETC2 results in the suppression of trichomes and overproduction of root hairs, as observed for CPC, TRY, ETC1 and ETC3 (PubMed:15604688). In natural Arabidopsis populations the single amino acid substitution of Lys-19 to Glu might affect the stability of the ETC2 repressor and causes reduced trichome number (PubMed:19818620).