Abstract
Climate change is a major threat to global food security. Changes in climate can directly impact food systems by reducing the production and genetic diversity of crops and their wild relatives, thereby restricting future options for breeding improved varieties and reducing the ability to adapt crops to future challenges. The global surface temperature is predicted to rise by an average of 0.3°C during the next decade, and the Paris Agreement (Paris Climate Accords) aims to limit global warming to below an average of 2°C, preferably to 1.5°C compared to pre-industrial levels. Even if the goal of the Paris Agreement can be met, the predicted rise in temperatures will increase the likelihood of extreme weather events, including heatwaves, making heat stress (HS) a major global abiotic stress factor for many crops. HS can have adverse effects on plant morphology, physiology, and biochemistry during all stages of vegetative and reproductive development. In fruiting vegetables, even moderate HS reduces fruit set and yields, and high temperatures may result in poor fruit quality. In this review, we emphasize the effects of abiotic stress, especially at high temperatures, on crop plants, such as tomatoes, touching upon key processes determining plant growth and yield. Specifically, we investigated the molecular mechanisms involved in HS tolerance and the challenges of developing heat-tolerant tomato varieties. Finally, we discuss a strategy for effectively improving the heat tolerance of vegetable crops.
Highlights
Climate change, a rise in ambient temperatures, is predicted to significantly affect plant growth and development, resulting in a devastating reduction in crop productivity, causing severe famine and limiting global food security (FAO-STAT, http://faostat.fao.org; Verisk Maplecroft, https://www.maplecroft.com; (Bita and Gerats, 2013)
The latest IPCC report clearly indicates that climate change is currently occurring and will threaten food security in the future
heat stress (HS), resulting from climate change-induced temperature increase, has a negative impact on all stages of crop growth. For fruiting vegetables, such as tomatoes, even moderate HS reduces fruit set and quality; enhancing crop HS tolerance is among the best ways to adapt to climate change
Summary
A rise in ambient temperatures, is predicted to significantly affect plant growth and development, resulting in a devastating reduction in crop productivity, causing severe famine and limiting global food security (FAO-STAT, http://faostat.fao.org; Verisk Maplecroft, https://www.maplecroft.com; (Bita and Gerats, 2013). HS can cause negative effects on plant morphology, development, physiology, biochemistry, and molecular pathways at all vegetative and reproductive stages.
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