IMPACT OF HIGH TEMPERATURES ON WHEAT CROP DEVELOPMENT AND PRODUCTIVITY

Abstract

Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) plays a fundamental role in Brazilian agricultural production and global food security. However, as a species originating from temperate climates, it exhibits high sensitivity to thermal variations and excessive heat throughout its biological cycle. This study aimed to analyze the impacts of high temperatures on wheat crop development and yield in Brazil. To this end, an integrative literature review of qualitative approach and descriptive nature was conducted, encompassing publications in Portuguese and English from 1969 to 2026 retrieved from Periódicos CAPES, SciELO, and Google Scholar databases, as well as technical documents from institutions such as Embrapa and CONAB. The results indicated that heat stress affects all stages of the cycle, reducing tillering and biomass during the vegetative phase, causing floral abortion and pollen sterility in the reproductive phase, and shortening the grain filling window. Furthermore, the combination of heat and high humidity promotes the incidence of phytopathogens such as Fusarium head blight and wheat blast. It was concluded that heat stress compromises both grain yield and industrial quality, highlighting that sowing time planning based on Agricultural Climate Risk Zoning (ZARC), proper management, and the use of heat-tolerant cultivars are vital strategies to mitigate thermal damage and ensure the sustainability of national wheat production.