Promotes cuticle formation by inducing the expression of enzymes involved in wax biosynthesis (PubMed:15070782, PubMed:15319479). Confers drought resistance (PubMed:15319479). 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). Expressed in aerial organs, mostly in flowers, and in roots. Also observed at the branch points of pedicels of most young flowers, and in a patchy pattern in roots of mature plants and very young leaves in the rosette, including support cells of their trichomes. Detected in sepals of very young closed buds. Later, expressed in sepals and petals veins and epidermis, as well as in developing gynoecium but not in stamens. At anthesis, confined to the gynoecium, commenced in the anther, and slightly expressed in the anther filament. When petals and sepals withered, strong expression at the bottom of the silique, in the abscission zone, and in the pedicel region below it. At silique maturity, detected in the same region but only at the nectaries. Belongs to the AP2/ERF transcription factor family. ERF subfamily.