The Transcripiton Factor OsERF104 Positively Regulates Cadmium Tolerance Via Activating OsPDR5 and OsPDR20 in Rice

Cadmium (Cd) toxicity threatens rice production and food safety. While ethylene‐responsive transcription factors (ERFs) are involved in stress responses, their role in Cd detoxification in rice is unclear. This study identifies OsERF104 as a key positive regulator of Cd tolerance in rice. We demonstrate that OsERF104 , induced by Cd stress in an H₂O₂‐dependent manner, directly activates the expression of OsPDR5 and OsPDR20 , two plasma membrane ABC transporters responsible for Cd efflux. Loss‐of‐function OsERF104 showed increased Cd sensitivity and accumulation, while complementation restored wild‐type phenotypes. Transcriptomic analysis revealed that OsERF104 is essential for Cd‐inducible expression of OsPDR5 and OsPDR20 . OsERF104 directly binds to GCC‐box elements in the promoters of OsPDR5 and OsPDR20 , activating their transcription, as confirmed by ChIP‐qPCR, EMSA, Y1H, and luciferase assays. Overexpression of OsPDR20 in the oserf104 mutant rescued the Cd‐sensitive phenotype. Collectively, our findings uncover a novel OsERF104–OsPDR5/OsPDR20 module that curtails Cd accumulation and enhances Cd tolerance, representing a promising target for breeding low‐Cd rice.