DREB2 (dehydration-responsive element-binding factor 2)-type transcription factors play a critical role in the stress-related regulation network in plants. In this study, we isolated and characterized a DREB2 homolog from Malus sieversii Roem., designated MsDREB2C (GenBank accession No. JQ790526). MsDREB2C localized to the nucleus and transactivated reporter genes in yeast strain YGR-2. Quantitative real-time PCR analysis demonstrated that MsDREB2C was constitutively expressed and significantly induced by drought, salt, cold, heat and ABA. Transgenic Arabidopsis plants overexpressing MsDREB2C exhibited increased root and leaf growth and proline levels, and reduced water loss and stomatal aperture. The transcriptional level of genes that function downstream of dehydration-responsive elements was greater in the transgenic Arabidopsis plants than in wild-type plants under control and abiotic stress conditions. Furthermore, constitutive expression of MsDREB2C repressed the expression of pathogenesis-related (PR) genes and the activity of peroxidase in transgenic plants under control and pathogenic conditions. As a result, transgenic plants were more tolerant to drought, heat and cold, but more sensitive to Pst DC3000 (Pseudomonas syringae pv . tomato DC3000) infection than control plants. β-Glucuronidase expression analysis of the MsDREB2C promoter in transgenic tobacco plants showed that MsDREB2C was mainly expressed in the vascular tissues and seeds. Deletion analysis identified the regulatory regions responsible for the plant's response to drought (-831 to -680), ABA (-831 to -680 and -335 to -148), salt (-831 to -335), cold (-1,317 to -831 and -335 to -148) and heat (-335 to -148).