biostudies-literatureJansma SYDutch Research Council (NWO)828743https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC9036445biostudies-literatureUnknown13Exposure to high temperatures leads to failure in pollen development, which may have significant implications for food security with ongoing climate change. We hypothesized that the stress response-associated hormone salicylic acid (SA) affects pollen tolerance to long-term mild heat (LTMH) (≥14 days exposure to day-/nighttime temperature of 30-34/24-28°C, depending on the genotype), either positively, by inducing acclimation, or negatively, by reducing investment in reproductive development. Here, we investigated these hypotheses assessing the pollen thermotolerance of a <i>35S:nahG</i> tomato line, which has low SA levels. We found that reducing the SA level resulted in increased pollen viability of plants grown in LTMH and further characterized this line by transcriptome, carbohydrate, Frontiers in plant scienceLow Salicylic Acid Level Improves Pollen Development Under Long-Term Mild Heat Conditions in Tomato.PMC9036445867.15.011Rieu ITikunov YMJansma SYSergeeva LILigterink WKohlen WfalseLow Salicylic Acid Level Improves Pollen Development Under Long-Term Mild Heat Conditions in Tomato.Exposure to high temperatures leads to failure in pollen development, which may have significant implications for food security with ongoing climate change. We hypothesized that the stress response-associated hormone salicylic acid (SA) affects pollen tolerance to long-term mild heat (LTMH) (≥14 days exposure to day-/nighttime temperature of 30-34/24-28°C, depending on the genotype), either positively, by inducing acclimation, or negatively, by reducing investment in reproductive development. Here, we investigated these hypotheses assessing the pollen thermotolerance of a <i>35S:nahG</i> tomato line, which has low SA levels. We found that reducing the SA level resulted in increased pollen viability of plants grown in LTMH and further characterized this line by transcriptome, carbohydrate, 2022-01-01T00:00:00Z20222026-05-18T03:14:38.451Z2025-04-04T10:02:27.4ZS-EPMC90364453548115110.3389/fpls.2022.828743