The Transcripiton Factor OsERF104 Positively Regulates Cadmium Tolerance Via Activating <i>OsPDR5</i> and <i>OsPDR20</i> 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.