Adaptive response to long-term high temperatures during the reproductive development in Arabidopsis thaliana.

Abstract

Main conclusion: Flowering Arabidopsis plants adapt to long-term high temperature by shortening the flowering period and reducing their fertility. The study also demonstrated that the commonly used hot1-3 mutant is tetraploid. Increasing global temperatures and the rising frequency of heat waves pose a significant threat to plant reproduction. The reproductive phase is particularly sensitive to heat stress, yet the underlying mechanisms regulating thermotolerance during this stage remain insufficiently understood, despite significant advances in its understanding during vegetative growth. Heat stress responses are largely controlled by heat shock factors (HSFs) and their downstream targets, including heat shock proteins (HSPs). Among these, HSP101 is essential for acquired thermotolerance and recovery from stress, while HEAT SHOCK BINDING PROTEIN (HSBP) acts as a negative regulator of HSF activity, modulating the heat shock response. Here, we investigated the impact of elevated temperature regimes on the reproductive development of Arabidopsis thaliana, with a particular focus on pollen development and fertility. Our results show that heat stress negatively affects pollen development in a dose-dependent manner, leading to reduced reproductive success. We confirmed the critical role of HSP101 in reproductive thermotolerance using the hot1-3 mutant, deficient in HSP101. Furthermore, we provide evidence that the hot1-3 mutant is tetraploid. The origin of this event is unknown, but it is tempting to speculate that disruption of heat stress responses and interference with meiotic processes may lead to whole genome duplication. Overall, this study provides new insights into the regulation of plant reproductive development under heat stress and highlights the importance of HSP101 in maintaining fertility. These findings contribute to a better understanding of plant responses to rising temperatures and may inform strategies to enhance crop resilience under climate change.