Jiamin Wang , Xian Zhang , Yunchao Huang

Hainan Provincial Key Laboratory of Crop Molecular Breeding, Sanya, 572025, Hainan, China
Author    Correspondence author
Maize Genomics and Genetics, 2025, Vol. 16, No. 3   
Received: 12 Mar., 2025    Accepted: 22 Apr., 2025    Published: 08 May, 2025

This is an open access article published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

This study reviews recent advancements in the genetic regulation and physiological adaptations of maize under heat stress. It focuses on key regulatory networks, including heat shock proteins (HSPs), transcription factors (HSFs, AP2/ERF, and bZIP), and signal transduction pathways such as calcium signaling, MAPK cascades, and ABA-mediated responses. The study also analyzes the physiological and biochemical adaptation mechanisms of maize to heat stress, including antioxidant defense systems, osmolyte accumulation, and photosynthetic regulation. It highlights the genetic progress in breeding for heat tolerance, such as QTL mapping, genomic selection, and CRISPR-based gene editing. Through case studies of heat-tolerant maize varieties and field trials, this study provides practical insights into integrating molecular breeding and agronomic strategies. This study emphasizes the combination of molecular breeding and precision agriculture to cultivate maize varieties that adapt to climate change, thereby ensuring sustainable production under high temperature environments.

Maize (Zea mays L.); Heat tolerance; Gene regulation; Genetic breeding; Physiological response