Bioengineering a novel photorespiratory bypass is a viable and feasible approach for substantially improving plant productivity. The light-dependent GMA bypass can significantly improve photosynthetic rates and grain yields of rice under greenhouse and field conditions without affecting seed-setting rate.

This review summarizes our current understanding of the responses of rice, wheat, and maize to high-temperature stress during flowering, with a focus on spikelet opening, anther dehiscence, pollen shedding, pollen viability, pistil and stigma function, pollen germination on the stigma, and pollen tube elongation. A comprehensive list of selection indexes for breeding heat-tolerant varieties and managing crops under high-temperature stress is provided.