Molecular breeding for improving heat stress tolerance in wheat.

Abstract This paper discusses wheat responses to heat stress (including morphological and growth, cellular structure and physiological responses) and the molecular-genetic bases of heat response in wheat (including topics on mapping quantitative trait loci related to heat tolerance and the role of functional genes in response to heat stress). The improvement of heat tolerance of wheat by comprehensive strategies is also described. It is believed that with the emphasis on genetic resource exploration and with better understanding of the molecular basis, heat tolerance will be improved during wheat breeding programmes in the future.