Despite the importance of maize as a staple crop in Southern Africa, production remains subdued, averaging 1 tha⁻¹ under smallholder farming systems. Although the low yields can be attributed to several biotic (e.g., pests and diseases) and abiotic (e.g., infertile soils) phenomenon, the climate change-induced abiotic stresses (in particular, heat and drought) are regarded as the major constrains threatening maize productivity, globally. Since climatic models are predicting exacerbated incidences of drought and heat stress, societies that depend on maize for survival will also be at risk if plant breeders lose focus in developing varieties productive under these predicted climatic scenarios. In this review, we provide: (1) a summary of the known effects of drought and heat stress on maize production, (2) a summation of the morpho-physiological adaptation mechanisms of maize to heat and drought as well as (3) a summary of strides made on the molecular front in understanding how heat and drought stress tolerance/resistance in maize is genetically controlled. We hypothesize that a better understanding of how heat and drought stress impacts of maize productivity, together with a deeper appreciation of mechanisms employed by maize germplasm tolerant/resistant to the stress conditions, can guide maize breeders in structuring a holistic program for developing maize varieties productive under these abiotic stresses.

尽管玉米在南部非洲作为主要农作物非常重要，但产量仍然低迷，平均为1 tha ^-1在小农耕作制度下。尽管低产可归因于几种生物（例如病虫害）和非生物（例如不肥沃的土壤）现象，但气候变化引起的非生物胁迫（特别是高温和干旱）被认为是威胁玉米的主要制约因素全球生产力。由于气候模型预测干旱和高温胁迫的发生率会加剧，如果植物育种者失去了在这些预测的气候情景下发展可生产品种的注意力，依赖玉米生存的社会也将面临风险。在这篇综述中，我们提供：（1）干旱和高温胁迫对玉米生产的已知影响的摘要，（2）总结了玉米对高温和干旱的形态生理适应机制，以及（3）总结了分子前沿方面的进展，以了解如何遗传控制玉米的高温和干旱胁迫耐受性/抗性。我们假设，更好地了解高温和干旱胁迫如何影响玉米生产力，以及加深对玉米种质耐受/抵抗胁迫条件所采用的机制的理解，可以指导玉米育种者构建整体计划，以开发可生产的玉米品种在这些非生物压力下。