Genomic and Physiological Mechanisms Underlying Heat Stress Tolerance in Arabidopsis thaliana

The increasing frequency of heat waves poses significant challenges to plant growth and productivity. Understanding the mechanisms of heat stress tolerance in plants is critical for developing resilient agricultural systems. This study investigates the genomic and physiological responses of Arabidopsis thaliana to prolonged heat stress conditions. Using a combination of transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses, we identified key heat-responsive genes and metabolites. The study revealed that heat stress induces a significant upregulation of heat shock proteins, with HSP70 showing a 3.5-fold increase (p < 0.01). Furthermore, a comprehensive assessment of metabolite profiles indicated elevated levels of proline and glycine betaine, which were correlated with enhanced cell membrane stability. Additionally, we employed CRISPR-Cas9 technology to knock out specific heat shock transcription factors, resulting in a marked decrease in plant survival rates under heat stress. Our findings demonstrate that specific molecular pathways are activated in response to heat stress, providing insights into potential targets for genetic improvement. This study underscores the importance of integrating multi-omic approaches to unravel the complexity of plant stress responses.