Maize Genomics and Genetics 2025, Vol.16, No.3, 129-138 http://cropscipublisher.com/index.php/mgg 136 7 Future Perspectives and Breeding Strategies 7.1 Breeding for heat tolerance through molecular tools With global temperatures climbing steadily, breeding maize that can withstand heat has become a pressing goal. Tools like quantitative trait loci (QTL) mapping and genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have helped researchers pinpoint regions in the genome that are linked to heat resilience. For instance, Seetharam et al. (2021) discovered 269 SNPs that showed strong associations with heat stress. Their haplotype trend regression (HTR) analysis further identified 26 haplotype blocks and 96 single SNP variants tied to grain yield in high-temperature environments—valuable clues for breeding more heat-resilient varieties. Studies combining transcriptomics and metabolomics have uncovered important genes and metabolic pathways, including those involved in protein folding and flavonoid production, that play a role in how maize copes with heat (Chen et al., 2023). Meanwhile, Guo et al. (2024) found that applying salicylic acid helped boost grain weight and yield by extending grain-filling time, increasing endosperm cell numbers, improving polyploidy, and adjusting hormone levels and metabolic activities. These insights form a solid foundation for breeding maize varieties that can perform better in hot climates. 7.2 Integrating omics approaches in heat tolerance research Omics tools—like genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics—offer a broad view of how maize responds to heat stress. By using these methods, researchers have been able to spot which genes and metabolites are activated or suppressed during heat exposure. In one recent study, Zhao et al. (2024) identified 1 062 metabolites involved in maize’s response to high temperatures. These findings deepen our understanding of the plant’s physiological and molecular coping mechanisms. Joint analyses have highlighted how compounds such as lipids and flavonoids are central to heat stress tolerance. With this toolbox, scientists can move more quickly in identifying new candidate genes and pathways, ultimately speeding up the development of heat-tolerant maize. 7.3 Policy, extension, and climate-smart agriculture To truly tackle heat stress in the field, breeding work must go hand in hand with supportive policies and effective outreach. Climate-smart farming strategies—like adjusting planting times or improving soil and nutrient management—can work together with genetic improvements to enhance maize’s performance under heat (El-Sappah et al., 2022). Policies that invest in heat-tolerance research and promote the use of resilient varieties at the farm level are essential. Collaboration across government bodies, private companies, and research institutions can help push these ideas forward, ensuring maize production remains sustainable in a warming world (Driedonks et al., 2016). Acknowledgments We would like to thank Mr. Miao for his/her invaluable guidance, insightful suggestions, and continuous support throughout the development of this study. 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. Reference Alam M., Seetharam K., Zaidi P., Dinesh A., Vinayan M., and Nath U., 2017, Dissecting heat stress tolerance in tropical maize (Zea mays L.), Field Crops Research, 204: 110-119. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.FCR.2017.01.006 Begcy K., Nosenko T., Zhou L., Fragner L., Weckwerth W., and Dresselhaus T., 2019, Male sterility in maize after transient heat stress during the tetrad stage of pollen development, Plant Physiology, 181: 683-700. https://doi.org/10.1104/pp.19.00707 Bheemanahalli R., Ramamoorthy P., Poudel S., Samiappan S., Wijewardane N., and Reddy K., 2022, Effects of drought and heat stresses during reproductive stage on pollen germination, yield, and leaf reflectance properties in maize (Zeamays L.), Plant Direct, 6(8): e434. https://doi.org/10.1002/pld3.434 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
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