Pollen heat acclimation. As a consequence of global warming, plants have to face more severe and more frequently occurring periods of high temperature stress. While this affects the whole plant, development of the male gametophyte, the pollen, seems to be the most sensitive process. Given the great importance of functioning pollen for the plant life cycle and for agricultural production, it is necessary to understand this sensitivity. While changes in temperature affect different components of all cells and require a cellular response and acclimation, high temperature effects and responses in developing pollen are distinct from vegetative tissues at several points. This could be related to specific physiological characteristics of developing pollen and supporting tissues which make them vulnerable to high temperature, or its derived effects such as ROS accumulation and carbohydrate starvation. But also expression of heat stress-responsive genes shows unique patterns in developing pollen when compared to vegetative tissues that might explain the failure to withstand high temperatures. As an alternative to viewing pollen failure under high temperature as a result of inherent sensitivity of a specific developmental process, we end by discussing whether it might actually be an adaptation.
Keywords: Acclimation; Heat stress; High temperature response; Male fertility; Pollen development; Tapetum.