The sesame SiERF054 enhances drought resistance in Arabidopsis thaliana by modulating growth, oxidation response, and expression of stress-responsive genes

Ethylene-responsive element-binding factor (ERF) transcription factors play crucial roles in plant responses to abiotic stresses. SiERF054 has been identified as a stress-responsive ERF gene in sesame (Sesamum indicum), yet its biological function remains largely unexplored. Here, we functionally characterized mechanisms involved in SiERF054 regulation of drought tolerance through overexpression in Arabidopsis thaliana, transcriptome profiling, and yeast-based assays. SiERF054 exhibited transcri