With global warming, crop plants are challenged by heat stress during reproductive growth, leading to male sterility and yield reduction. The balance between reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and scavenging is disrupted by stress, resulting in oxidative stress which is harmful to crop growth. However, recent advances have shown that ROS signaling via proteins that sense the redox state is positive for plant performance under stress. ROS signaling is also involved in regulating anther development, such as timely tapetum degeneration. We summarize recent progress in uncovering the mechanism of heat stress effects on ROS homeostasis and discuss the relationship between oxidative stress and metabolic disorder, which is often observed during anther development under heat stress. We propose experimental and breeding strategies to improve field crop tolerance to heat stress.