Leaf and Ovary Carbohydrate Adjustments During Heat Stress Before, During, and After Anthesis

Cotton grown in the Mississippi Delta often flowers in temperatures that are suboptimal for the species. High-temperature stress leads to a decrease in the photosynthetic efficiency of the plant and hinders proper growth and development. If the efficiency is hindered for a significant period of time, then the plant must repartition resources to facilitate its survival rather than for reproduction. These repartitions include carbohydrate sources used in decreasing water potentials in the plant for water osmotic adjustments. Research is limited in examining the interconnections of carbohydrate and resource partitioning of the ovary that is influenced by heat stress.