Heat stress effects on legumes: Challenges, management strategies and future insights
Sher Alam, Mehmood Ali Noor, Hong Xing Li, Bukhtawer Nasir, Muhammad Aamir Manzoor, Saddam Hussain, Jiwang Zhang, Muhammad Waheed Riaz, Shabbir Hussain
Abstract
• Heat stress effect on of legumes. • Male reproductive development is severely affected by heat stress in legumes. • More scientific research required for heat stress effect on female reproductive development in legumes. • Plant photosynthesis is an intricate heat-sensitive physiological process and effected seed setting. Grain legumes, serving as vital sources of starch, protein, and oil, play a pivotal role in ensuring food security. However, global climate change poses an enhanced risk to legume production by elevated temperatures. The reproductive process, determining grain yield, is highly sensitive to heat stress, primarily affecting pollen and ovule infertility and reducing fertilization rates. Consequently, this leads to smaller seeds and reduced yield due to impaired grain setting and abortion. This review outlines the reproductive responses to heat stress in both male and female development and fertilization processes, while also examining heat-tolerant physiological and molecular mechanisms. Looking ahead, the development of heat-resistant genomes can be pursued by improving physiological processes through molecularly linked genetic engineering approaches to cope with these challenges posed by global warming.