Regulator of sister chromatid cohesion in meiosis which negatively regulates cohesin association with chromatin, acting as an antagonist of CTF7 (PubMed:25033056, PubMed:26813623). Cohesion ensures that chromosome partitioning is accurate in both meiotic and mitotic cells and plays an important role in DNA repair (By similarity). Essential for the prophase removal of cohesin during meiosis thus determining the timely release of meiotic cohesion (PubMed:25033056). Important for proper spindle attachment and assembly during meiosis (PubMed:25033056). Helps to prevent abnormal centromere association during prophase I in meiocytes (PubMed:25033056). Required for early embryonic patterning (PubMed:25033056). Also involved in chromosome segregation during mitosis (PubMed:25033056). Interacts with the cohesin complex throughout the cell cycle. Expressed in roots, leaves, buds and siliques. Fewer leaves, more flowers and higher germination rates (PubMed:23028719). Plants missing both WAPL1 and WAPL2 have relatively normal growth (slightly slower) and development but exhibit a significant reduction in male and female fertility (aborted pollen and ovules prior to fertilization and embryo defects in fertilized seed), due to blocked removal of cohesin from chromosomes during meiotic prophase (late zygotene/pachytene stage) resulting in chromosome bridges, broken chromosomes and uneven chromosome segregation, and leading to shorter siliques containing fewer seeds; this double mutant restores pollen viablitity to pollen-lethal ctf7 mutation (PubMed:25033056, PubMed:26813623). During mitosis, abnormal chromosome segregation but normal cohesin release (PubMed:25033056). Belongs to the WAPL family.