The research progress and future directions of genome editing for crop heat tolerance improvement

This paper systematically reviews the key molecular mechanisms underlying crop responses to heat stress, including heat signal perception, heat shock protein networks, transcriptional regulation hubs, reactive oxygen species metabolism, and phytohormone pathways, and summarizes potential editable targets. On this basis, it highlights major strategies and representative applications of genome editing for heat tolerance, covering the enhancement of endogenous defense pathways, regulation of core transcription factors, and optimization of physiological and developmental processes. Furthermore, it evaluates the empowering potential of cutting-edge editing technologies—such as promoter engineering, multiplex gene editing, genome-wide screening libraries, base and prime editing, and epigenome editing—in enabling “precise design” of heat tolerance. Finally, considering challenges such as target discovery, editing efficiency, off-target control, trait trade-offs, and biosafety, it emphasizes the need for interdisciplinary integration and technological convergence in future research.