Objectives Climate warming, especially during the reproductive period of wheat, has an important influence on the growth and development of wheat. However, the influence of high temperature during the reproductive period on wheat yields and yield components in different climatic regions has not yet been systematically quantified. Therefore, it is important to summarize and analyze the effect of temperature increment in reproductive stage on the growth and development of wheat in different climatic regions. This paper explores the differences in effects of warming at different intervals of day and night on wheat yield and its components, in order to provide a corresponding strategy for dealing with the impact of climate warming on wheat production.

Methods This study collected and selected 61 articles mainly focus on the effect of experimental warming on wheat yield and its typical physiological indicators. Meta-analysis was used to quantify the influence of 0–5℃ and 5–10℃ warming during reproductive stage of wheat on the yield and its components in various climatic regions, and to elucidate the differences in the effects of warming on wheat yield in various intervals during day and night.

Results The temperature increase of 0–5℃ during the wheat reproductive stage had a significant negative effect on wheat yield and its components. Wheat yield was reduced by 11.7%, and 1000-grain weight, grains per spike, and panicle numbers per area were reduced by 7.4%, 5.0% and 3.5%, respectively. The response of wheat reduction for yield to 0–5℃ and 5–10℃ warming in different climatic regions was ordered as: subtropical monsoon climate (15.2% and 38.8%) > temperate maritime climate and temperate continental climate (14.9% and 30.6%) > Mediterranean climate (10.6% and 15.6%) > temperate monsoon climate (9.3% and 10.2%); whereas for thousand grain weight, the order was: temperate continental climate (24.7% and 21.1%) and temperate monsoon climate (10.5% and 28.0%) > temperate maritime climate (9.7% and 15.0%). Especially during the reproductive period, the degree of 5–10℃ warming decreased the wheat yield components more than that of 0–5℃ in the subtropical monsoon climate and temperate monsoon climate. In addition, the decrease of wheat yield caused by nighttime warming during reproductive period was 14.7%, greater than that during daytime (11.3%).

Conclusions The wheat yield reduction during reproductive period in different climatic regions is caused mainly by the significant decrease of thousand grain weight and grain numbers per spike. The negative effect of nighttime warming on wheat yield in reproductive period is greater than that during daytime. The results of this study can provide a new perspective for wheat breeding in the future, as well as a scientific basis for coping with climate change and maintaining or increasing wheat yield.