Molecular insights into sensing, regulation and improving of heat tolerance in plants

Climate-change-mediated increase in temperature extremes has become a threat to plant productivity. Heat stress-induced changes in growth pattern, sensitivity to pests, plant phonologies, flowering, shrinkage of maturity period, grain filling, and increased senescence result in significant yield losses. Heat stress triggers multitude of cellular, physiological and molecular responses in plants beginning from the early sensing followed by signal transduction, osmolyte synthesis, antioxidant defense, and heat stress-associated gene expression. Several genes and metabolites involved in heat perception and in the adaptation response have been isolated and characterized in plants. Heat stress responses are also regulated by the heat stress transcription factors (HSFs), miRNAs and transcriptional factors which together form another layer of regulatory circuit. With the availability of functionally validated candidate genes, transgenic approaches have been applied for developing heat-tolerant transgenic maize, tobacco and sweet potato. In this review, we present an account of molecular mechanisms of heat tolerance and discuss the current developments in genetic manipulation for heat tolerant crops for future sustainable agriculture.

Automated summary

Climate change-induced increase in temperature extremes poses a threat to plant productivity, with heat stress causing changes in growth pattern, sensitivity to pests, flowering, maturity period, grain filling, and senescence leading to significant yield losses. Plant responses to heat stress involve a variety of cellular, physiological, and molecular mechanisms, including early sensing, signal transduction, osmolyte synthesis, antioxidant defense, and gene expression. The regulation of heat stress responses also involves heat stress transcription factors, miRNAs, and transcriptional factors, forming another layer of regulatory circuit.