Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is a major cereal crop grown worldwide, providing approximately 20% calorie and 25% protein intake. Wheat productivity is significantly affected by high temperatures, particularly during the grain-filling period. Heat stress accelerates leaf senescence, impairs photosynthesis, reduces starch accumulation, and alters protein synthesis, ultimately leading to a decrease in grain yield and quality. To mitigate the adverse effects of heat stress, wheat utilizes adaptation mechanisms, including the expression of heat shock proteins, activation of antioxidant defense systems, osmotic regulation, and transcription factor-mediated gene regulation. Stay-green traits also play a role in maintaining photosynthetic efficiency at high temperatures. Breeding strategies such as traditional breeding, marker-assisted selection , genomic selection , and genome editing are being explored to improve heat tolerance. Recent advances in the CRISPR-Cas9 technology enable precise gene editing, thereby enhancing the resilience of wheat to heat stress. Additionally, quantitative trait locus mapping and genome-wide association studies facilitated the identification of genetic regions associated with heat tolerance, thereby accelerating the development of climate-resilient wheat varieties. Future research should focus on integrating genetic and molecular approaches with sustainable agronomic practices and crop modeling strategies to optimize wheat productivity under rising temperatures. The integration of advanced breeding techniques and improved crop management can facilitate the development of wheat varieties that are more resilient to climate change.

Climate change caused by global warming, is predicted to have severe consequences for ecosystems and economic sectors. In the agricultural industry, it is predicted that there will be decreased crop yields resulting from shifting planting seasons, as well as higher temperature and water stress which significantly reduce crop productivity. Kimchi cabbage, a cold-loving plant, is particularly vulnerable to high-temperature stress which can lead to stunted growth, increased susceptibility to pests like soft rot, reduced yield, and lower quality that will negatively impact the Kimchi cabbage market. Kimchi cabbage can be cultivated in highland regions with low summer temperatures and reduced pest occurrence, but rising temperatures and water stress are expected to increase pest pressure, resulting in a rapid decrease in the potential cultivation area of Kimchi cabbage. Currently, research is being conducted around the world to identify physiological mechanisms of heat tolerance at the molecular level, selection of heat-tolerant material, and studies on cellular responses of plants under high-temperature conditions. Despite numerous studies on physiological and biochemical responses of Brassica crops to high temperatures, there is a need to develop heat-tolerant Kimchi cabbage cultivars that can adapt to rapidly changing climates, new strategies for pest control under high-temperature conditions, and mitigation measures to ensure stable cultivation and production.

In 2018, a new potato variety, ‘Arirang-2’, was released by the Highland Agriculture Research Institute in Pyeongchang, Korea. To create new varieties with better tuber formation at high temperature under long day, a cross was performed between high-temperature tolerant ‘Eigenheimer’ and drought tolerant ‘Daegwan 1-116’ in 2011. The shoot (57.9 cm) of ‘Arirang-2’ was taller than ‘Superior’ and ‘Sante’, and its tuber skin and flesh were red and light-yellow colored, respectively. Average number of tubers per plant of ‘Arirang-2’ was 9.1 while ‘Superior’ and ‘Sante’ had 5.4 and 14.1 tubers, respectively. Average weight of tuber of ‘Arirang-2’ was 98.1 g, which was slightly heavier than that of ‘Superior’ (90.0 g), and much heavier than that of ‘Sante’ (38.9 g). Total weight of tuber per plant of ‘Arirang-2’ was 892 g, which was remarkably higher than that of ‘Superior’ (486 g) and ‘Sante’ (549 g). Total yield (TY) of ‘Arirang-2’ measured in Gangwon-Do, Korea was around 5,022 kg/10a while that of ‘Superior’ was 3,036 kg/10a. In Kazahstan, total yield of ‘Arirang-2’ was 4,657 kg/10a and that of ‘Sante’ was 4,155 kg/10a. Marketable tuber yield (MTY) of ‘Arirang-2’ was 3,119 kg/10a in Gangwon-Do, Korea while that of ‘Superior’ was only 2,147 kg/10a. In Kazahstan, MTY of ‘Arirang-2’ was 3,162 kg/10a, which was 60% higher than that of ‘Sante’ (1,974 kg/10a). ‘Arirang-2’ is resistant to early blight (Alternaria solani) and late blight (Phytophthora infestans) compared to ‘Superior’ and ‘Sante’, and it shows tolerance to drought or high temperature. ‘Arirang-2’ was approved as a new potato cultivar by The Korea Seed and Varieties Service on March 3, 2021 (Registration No. 8444).

Hexaploid wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) exceeds about 30% of the world’s cereal production and cultivated over 220 million ha worldwide. Heat stress during the grain filling period gives detrimental effect on crop yields and has emerged as a serious problem throughout the world. Korean wheat cultivars that were released since 1960s were developed for various aims such as winter hardness, earliness, and pest resistance, etc. However, heat stress resistance is an emerging target for wheat breeding nowadays. Selected 11 Korean wheat cultivars (“Baegjoong”, “Dajung”, “Goso”, “Hanbaek”, “Jokyung”, “Joeun”, “Jopum”, “Keumgang”, “Olgeuru”, “Sinmichal”, “Uri”) were exposed to high temperature from DAF (days after flowering) 9~13. In this study, plant responses to heat stress as measured by reduction ratios of total chlorophyll contents, 100 seed weight, shoot dry weight can be translated into degree of tolerance. Therefore, these parameters can be used in wheat breeding for heat tolerance during grain filling period. The obtained results allow us to classify cultivars for heat stress tolerance. Pedigree information of Korean cultivars was shown that wheat line of either tolerant, moderate tolerant, or susceptible trait is succeeded to their descendent, which enable breeders to develop heat stress tolerant wheat by appropriate parental choice.