BUNTY SHARMA, VIVEK K. SINGH*, R. K. SHEORAN, N. K. THAKRAL AND ANU NARUKA
Oilseeds Section, Department of Genetics & Plant Breeding, CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar-125 004
(Haryana), India
*(e-mail : vks.slay@gmail.cm)
(Received : June 26, 2017; Accepted : August 14, 2017)
ABSTRACT
Global warming has become a serious worldwide threat. High temperature is major environmental factor that limits plant growth, metabolism and productivity worldwide. Plant reactions to high temperature vary with the degree and duration of high temperature and the plant type. High temperature is now a major concern for crop production and approaches for sustaining high yields of crop plants under high temperature stress are important agricultural goals. The physiological and biochemical reactions to heat stress are active research areas, and the molecular approaches are being adopted for developing high temperature tolerance in plants. Current adaptations to high temperature via alterations to technical and management systems are insufficient to sustain yield. For this reason, breeding for heat-tolerant crops is in high demand. This review provides the effects of high temperature on plant physiology, fertility and crop yield and discusses the strategies for breeding heat-tolerant cultivars.
Key words : Abiotic stress, heat tolerant, heat shock, breeding and physiology