The fingerprints of climate warming on cereal crops phenology and adaptation options

TLDR

Cereal crop growth depends on weather, photoperiod, and growing degree‑days, and rising global temperatures disturb phenology and yield, prompting farmers to adjust sowing dates and cultivars, though climate warming remains unavoidable. This review examines how climate warming impacts cereal phenology and explores agronomic, breeding, and biodiversity strategies to secure food security. The authors analyze how different cereal species regulate phenological development to adapt to warming, detailing the underlying physiological and agronomic mechanisms. They recommend management strategies—including altered sowing times, cultivar selection, and breeding of climate‑adapted genotypes—to mitigate warming effects on cereal production.

Abstract

Abstract Growth and development of cereal crops are linked to weather, day length and growing degree-days (GDDs) which make them responsive to the specific environments in specific seasons. Global temperature is rising due to human activities such as burning of fossil fuels and clearance of woodlands for building construction. The rise in temperature disrupts crop growth and development. Disturbance mainly causes a shift in phenological development of crops and affects their economic yield. Scientists and farmers adapt to these phenological shifts, in part, by changing sowing time and cultivar shifts which may increase or decrease crop growth duration. Nonetheless, climate warming is a global phenomenon and cannot be avoided. In this scenario, food security can be ensured by improving cereal production through agronomic management, breeding of climate-adapted genotypes and increasing genetic biodiversity. In this review, climate warming, its impact and consequences are discussed with reference to their influences on phenological shifts. Furthermore, how different cereal crops adapt to climate warming by regulating their phenological development is elaborated. Based on the above mentioned discussion, different management strategies to cope with climate warming are suggested.