Rice Heat Stress Response: Physiological Changes and Molecular Regulatory Network Research Progress

Global climate change has markedly increased the frequency of heat stress events in rice, severely threatening both yield and grain quality and posing a substantial challenge to global food security. Understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying heat tolerance in rice is therefore essential to facilitate the breeding of thermotolerant cultivars. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the effects of heat stress on rice agronomic traits across various developmental stages. We summarize key physiological and metabolic alterations induced by high temperatures and discuss recent advances in unraveling the molecular regulatory networks involved in heat stress responses. By integrating findings from gene cloning, functional genomics, and advanced breeding strategies, this review outlines practical approaches for improving rice heat tolerance and identifies critical knowledge gaps that warrant further investigation.