Abstract

Abiotic stress, particularly high temperatures, disrupts the soil-plant-atmosphere continuum, leading to reduced yields in many major crops globally. As global warming intensifies, the negative impacts on plant growth and development become more pronounced, with extreme heat posing a significant threat to agricultural productivity. This could lead to severe crop losses and potential food shortages. Heat stress affects plants at all stages of development, though the threshold for tolerance varies by species and growth phase. For example, elevated temperatures during seed germination can delay or inhibit the process, while later stages experience disruptions in photosynthesis, respiration, water balance and membrane stability. Hormone levels and both primary and secondary metabolites are also affected. To counter heat stress, plants activate a variety of adaptive, avoidance and acclimation mechanisms. These include the production of heat shock proteins, osmo-protectants and antioxidants, along with the activation of signaling pathways and transcriptional regulators. Developing heat-tolerant crop varieties is a key strategy for mitigating the adverse effects of rising temperatures. However, this requires a comprehensive understanding of the physiological responses of plants to heat stress and the mechanisms that confer heat tolerance, in order to guide genetic improvement efforts.

Dogra, S., Dey, P., Chand, G., 2024. Exploring Physiological and Biochemical Adaptations of Plants under High Temperature Stress. Research Biotica, 2024, online first.