From Thermosensing to Reproduction: Plant Responses to Elevated Temperature

High temperatures threaten plant productivity and survival worldwide. Plants respond to warming across their life cycle, but the effects of elevated temperature depend on its intensity, duration, and rate of change, and the developmental and environmental context in which it is experienced. Here, we synthesize current knowledge of temperature sensing and developmental responses from seed germination through plant architectural acclimation, floral transition, and reproduction. We distinguish thermomorphogenesis under moderately elevated ambient temperatures from heat-stress responses that protect cellular and developmental integrity under more severe conditions, while emphasizing their mechanistic overlap. Across these stages, we highlight how temperature responses are shaped by organ identity, species, genotype, and photoperiod, and discuss the trade-offs that must be resolved to translate developmental plasticity into heat-resilient crop production.