![\"sun](\"https:\/\/www.bartlett.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/Hot-Weather_High-temperatures-can-cause-signifcant-damage-to-trees-and-shrubs-e1560959052950.jpg\")
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So how do plants cope with high temperatures? One way is through the formation of heat-shock proteins (HSPs). Found in humans and other animals as well, HSPs perform the same function in both animals and plants: maintain the integrity and function of proteins in high heat. HSPs form in response to rising temperatures and help to stabilize proteins to ensure cell functioning; they help to moderate metabolic reactions that would otherwise speed up and cause an imbalance of metabolites and acidification in cellular tissue. Calcium also plays a critical role in temperature stress adaptation by modulating enzyme activity and stabilizing membranes. There are physical adaptations as well, such as increasing leaf hairs and waxes, changing leaf morphology to reduce light interception, and changing leaf orientation.<\/p>\n
Preparing plants for heat stress consists of the horticultural basics: plant properly in high-quality soil, manage soil fertility, and irrigate properly. Soil sampling to assess soil nutrition (particularly calcium) and physical properties is also important so that fertilization can be customized to optimize the soil environment and enhance plant health.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"