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Updated: Jun 23, 2026
07:08
Identification of Novel Regulators of Plant Transpiration by Large-Scale Thermal Imaging Screening in Helianthus Annuus
Published on: January 30, 2020
A Database of Plant Heat Tolerances and Methodological Matters
Timothy M Perez1, Alyssa T Kullberg2,3, Evan M Rehm4
1Department of Biology The University of Miami Coral Gables Florida USA.
Ecology and Evolution
|June 22, 2026
Summary
This study compiles plant heat tolerance data, addressing inconsistencies to improve understanding of species
Area of Science:
- Plant Biology
- Ecology
- Climate Change Biology
Background:
- Plant heat tolerance is crucial for understanding species' responses to extreme temperatures.
- Methodological inconsistencies and missing data hinder comprehensive analysis.
- A unified resource is needed to address these limitations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To collate and synthesize existing plant heat tolerance data.
- To identify and account for sources of variation in heat tolerance data.
- To create a resource for more rigorous ecological syntheses.
Main Methods:
- Compiled data from literature searches and existing databases.
- Expanded data collection to include taxonomic, methodological, geographic, and cultivation factors.
- Collected over 3100 heat tolerance records in degrees Celsius for terrestrial plants.
Main Results:
- The database includes over 1700 vascular plant taxa, 1000 genera, and 200 families.
- Data spans from 1935 to 2024, more than doubling species and tripling records compared to previous databases.
- Identified significant gaps in standardized methods, taxonomic sampling, and geographic representation.
Conclusions:
- The compiled database significantly enhances the scope and depth of plant heat tolerance data.
- The resource enables researchers to identify, account for, and test drivers of variation in plant heat tolerance.
- Addressing data gaps is essential for future research on plant adaptation to climate change.
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