Heat stress effects on legumes: Challenges, management strategies and future insight

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.