Abstract

The progressive increase in the earth’s temperature due to anthropogenic activities is a major concern for humanity. The ensuing heat stress (HS) severely impacts plant growth, endangering ecosystem quality and world food security. Plant growth, physiological processes and final amount of edible products are affected by HS to an extent that reflects the physical damages, physiological commotions and biochemical alterations incurred at various growth stages. Therefore, a better understanding of plant behaviour in response to HS has pragmatic implications for devising counter-measures, alleviation strategies, and for acknowledging the differences between HS and the companion drought stress. Conventional breeding, biotechnological and molecular approaches are used to develop HS tolerant genotypes in plant species bred for food/feed uses. Recent achievements in the omics techniques result in a better knowledge of the molecular mechanisms involved in HS. However, shrewd management of crop practices is still helpful to improve plant resilience to HS. Suitable sowing time, seed priming, bacterial seed treatment, nutrient and water management, exogenous application of osmo-protectants, and conservation of soil moisture are important tools to improve plant behaviour under the critical HS scenarios determined by climate change and global warming.

摘要

人为活动导致地球温度的逐步升高是人类的主要关切。随之而来的热应激（HS）严重影响植物生长，危及生态系统质量和世界粮食安全。HS对植物的生长，生理过程和可食用产品的最终量的影响程度可反映出在各个生长阶段发生的物理损害，生理动荡和生化改变。因此，更好地理解植物对HS的响应行为对于设计对策，缓解策略以及认识HS和伴随干旱胁迫之间的差异具有实际意义。常规育种，生物技术和分子方法用于在为食品/饲料用途而繁殖的植物物种中开发耐HS的基因型。在组学技术方面的最新成就使人们对HS涉及的分子机制有了更好的了解。但是，对作物实践的精明管理仍然有助于提高植物对HS的适应力。在气候变化和全球变暖所决定的关键HS情景下，适当的播种时间，种子启动，细菌种子处理，营养和水管理，外源渗透保护剂的应用以及土壤水分的保存是改善植物行为的重要工具。