Heat Stress and Plant-Biotic Interactions: Advances and Perspectives

Area of Science:

• Agricultural Science
• Plant Physiology
• Climate Change Biology

Background:

• Climate change causes frequent heat stress (HS) events, threatening global food security.
• Elevated temperatures negatively impact plant physiology, reducing disease resistance and crop yields.
• Domestication for high yields has made crops vulnerable to multiple stressors, including HS.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the physiological and molecular effects of heat stress (HS) and biotic factor interactions.
• To understand the combined impact of HS and biotic stresses on crop growth and yield.
• To review strategies for addressing multi-stress scenarios in agriculture.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of studies on singular and combined stress effects.
• Analysis of physiological and molecular responses to HS and biotic factors.
• Examination of current strategies for multi-stress tolerance.

Main Results:

• Heat stress (HS) significantly impairs plant defense mechanisms and reduces crop productivity.
• Concurrent HS and biotic stresses pose a greater threat than individual stresses.
• Interactions between HS and various biotic factors (pathogens, pests, etc.) are complex and impactful.

Conclusions:

• Addressing the combined effects of HS and biotic stresses is critical for future agricultural productivity.
• Developing multi-stress resilient crops requires understanding complex plant-stressor interactions.
• Innovative strategies are needed to mitigate the negative impacts of climate change on agriculture.