A REVIEW ON EFFECTS OF HEAT STRESS ON MAIZE

Abstract

Maize is one of the most commonly grown cereal crops in the world and Nepal and remains a reliable source of staple food and food security. The term “Climate change” is mostly associated with the rise in air temperature of the earth simply signifies high temperature resulted due to anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions. According to IPCC 6th Assessment report, if climate change is not opted to control then the yield projections of corn are driven to decrease with the multiplication of pests and weeds increasing costs for the production of major crops including maize. Before the climate-based impact gets vulnerable, a possible solution like breeding technologies and other management strategies need to be utilized for developing heat-tolerant varieties. Heat stress affects overall performance from germination to maturity but the effect on the reproductive stage results in the severe yield loss of the maize crop. This review provides a slight view of the effects of heat stress on maize productivity.