Maize Genomics and Genetics 2025, Vol.16, No.3, 108-118 http://cropscipublisher.com/index.php/mgg 117 technology to optimize soil moisture and alleviate thermal transpiration; implementing a phased density control strategy to achieve a dynamic balance between the vegetative growth and reproductive growth stages. Precise control of dense planting can promote the efficient use of photosynthetic resources, and effectively alleviate the adverse effects of high temperature on pollen vitality, grain filling process and grain formation by improving the leaf area index (LAI), ear microclimate and root distribution. At the same time, this technology forms a synergistic effect with heat-resistant varieties, heat-resistant biostimulants and intelligent irrigation management, promoting the transformation of the corn production system towards "high density and stable yield, stress resistance and water conservation, high efficiency and green". Acknowledgments Thanks to the reviewers for their valuable feedback, which helped improve the manuscript. Conflict of Interest Disclosure The authors affirm that this research was conducted without any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest. References Chen Y., Du T., Zhang J., Chen S., Fu J., Li H., and Yang Q., 2023, Genes and pathways correlated with heat stress responses and heat tolerance in maize kernels, Frontiers in Plant Science, 14: 1228213. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2023.1228213 Djalović I., Kundu S., Bahuguna R., Pareek A., Raza A., Singla-Pareek S., Prasad P., and Varshney R., 2023, Maize and heat stress: physiological, genetic, and molecular insights, The Plant Genome, 17(1): e20378. https://doi.org/10.1002/tpg2.20378 Elmyhun M., Abate E., Abate A., Teklewold A., and Menkir A., 2024, Genetic analysis of tolerance to combined drought and heat stress in tropical maize, PLOS ONE, 19(6): e0302272. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0302272 El-Sappah A., Rather S., Wani S., Elrys A., Bilal M., Huang Q., Dar Z., Elashtokhy M., Soaud N., Koul M., Mir R., Yan K., Li J., El-Tarabily K., and Abbas M., 2022, Heat stress-mediated constraints in maize (Zeamays) production: challenges and solutions, Frontiers in Plant Science, 13: 879366. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2022.879366 Inghelandt D., Frey F., Ries D., and Stich B., 2019, QTL mapping and genome-wide prediction of heat tolerance in multiple connected populations of temperate maize, Scientific Reports, 9: 14418. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-50853-2 Jagtap A., Yadav I., Vikal Y., Praba U., Kaur N., Gill A., and Johal G., 2023, Transcriptional dynamics of maize leaves, pollens and ovules to gain insights into heat stress-related responses, Frontiers in Plant Science, 14: 1117136. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2023.1117136 Jamil S., Ahmad S., Shahzad R., Umer N., Kanwal S., Rehman H., Rana I., and Atif R., 2024, Leveraging multiomics insights and exploiting wild relatives' potential for drought and heat tolerance in maize, Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 72(29): 16048-16075. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jafc.4c01375 Jiang Y., Zheng Q., Chen L., Liang Y., and Wu J., 2017, Ectopic overexpression of maize heat shock transcription factor gene ZmHsf04 confers increased thermo and salt-stress tolerance in transgenic Arabidopsis, Acta Physiologiae Plantarum, 40: 1-12. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11738-017-2587-2 Kumar R., Dubey K., Goswami S., Rai G., Rai P., Salgotra R., Bakshi S., Mishra D., Mishra G., and Chinnusamy V., 2023, Transcriptional regulation of small heat shock protein 17 (sHSP-17) by Triticum aestivum HSFA2h transcription factor confers tolerance in Arabidopsis under heat stress, Plants, 12(20): 3598. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12203598 Kumar R., Goswami S., Singh K., Dubey K., Rai G., Singh B., Singh S., Grover M., Mishra D., Kumar S., Bakshi S., Rai A., Pathak H., Chinnusamy V., and Praveen S., 2018, Characterization of novel heat-responsive transcription factor (TaHSFA6e) gene involved in regulation of heat shock proteins (HSPs)-a key member of heat stress-tolerance network of wheat, Journal of Biotechnology, 279: 1-12. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbiotec.2018.05.008 Li H., Zhang H., Li G., Liu Z., Zhang Y., Zhang H., and Guo X., 2015, Expression of maize heat shock transcription factor gene ZmHsf06 enhances the thermotolerance and drought-stress tolerance of transgenic Arabidopsis, Functional Plant Biology, 42(11): 1080-1091. https://doi.org/10.1071/FP15080 Li Z., Li Z., Ji Y., Wang C., Wang S., Shi Y., Le J., and Zhang M., 2024, The heat shock factor 20-HSF4-cellulose synthase A2 module regulates heat stress tolerance in maize, The Plant Cell, 36: 2652-2667. https://doi.org/10.1093/plcell/koae106 Li Z., Tang J., Srivastava R., Bassham D., and Howell S., 2020, The transcription factor bZIP60 links the unfolded protein response to the heat stress response in maize, The Plant Cell, 32(11): 3559-3575. https://doi.org/10.1105/tpc.20.00260
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