JoAnne Skelly: Heat stress adaptations in plants

Intellectually, I always realize summer is coming. But, I never actually believe in it until the temperatures soar and then, suddenly, I miss spring. Heat not only affects us, it also affects plants. During excessive heat events, plants struggle to survive, trying to pull enough water out of the ground quickly enough to match what is being lost by evaporation out of the leaves. Many biochemical reactions necessary for growth and reproduction are temperature sensitive. Plants have evolved physiological, biochemical, morphological and molecular responses to heat stress.