Folic Acid and Amino Acid-Mediated Recovery of Horticultural Crops Following Heat Stress: Physiological, Biochemical and Molecular Perspectives

Heat stress represents one of the most significant abiotic threats to global horticultural production under changing climatic conditions. While substantial research has focused on stress tolerance mechanisms, the recovery phase following heat stress exposure is equally critical for determining final crop productivity and quality. This review examines the emerging roles of folic acid and amino acids as biostimulants that facilitate post-heat stress recovery in horticultural crops. Folic acid (vitamin B۹) functions through its involvement in one-carbon metabolism, DNA synthesis, and cellular redox regulation, while amino acids including proline, glycine betaine, arginine, cysteine, methionine, and glutamate contribute through osmoprotection, antioxidant defense, and stress signaling pathways. We discuss the physiological mechanisms underlying photosynthetic recovery, growth restoration, and water relations; biochemical processes involving reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging, antioxidant enzyme activation, and membrane stabilization; and molecular regulatory networks encompassing heat shock proteins, stress-responsive genes, and epigenetic modifications. Furthermore, we explore the potential synergistic interactions between folic acid and amino acids in enhancing recovery responses. Despite promising findings, significant research gaps remain regarding combined applications, molecular mechanisms in horticultural species, and field validation under realistic climate change scenarios. This review provides a comprehensive framework for understanding how these biostimulants can be integrated into sustainable crop management strategies to enhance resilience against heat stress.

کلیدواژه ها:

Heat stress ، folic acid ، amino acids ، horticultural crops ، stress recovery