Direct numerical simulation is utilized to generate temperature field statistics in particle-laden incompressible homogeneous shear turbulent flows in the presence of mean temperature gradients. The particle density is much larger than the fluid density and the particle volume fraction is small. The particle-particle collisions are ignored, however, both one- and two-way couplings are considered. The effects of the mass loading ratio, the particle time constant, the ratio of specific heats, and the orientation of the mean temperature gradient on the fluid and particle temperature statistics are investigated. The results indicate that the increase of the mass loading ratio or the particle time constant generally tends to decrease the magnitudes of the temperature variance and the turbulent heat flux of both the carrier and the dispersed phases. The increase of the ratio of specific heats increases the particle temperature variance but demonstrates an opposite effect on the fluid. The magnitude of the turbulent heat flux of the fluid is not influenced by the change of the ratio of specific heats whereas that of the particles increases with the increase of this ratio. Further analysis of the results shows that the correlation of the temperature of the particles and the temperature of the fluid at the location of the particles decreases with the increase of the ratio of specific heats or the particle time constant and increases with the increase of the mass loading ratio. The mechanisms responsible for these variations are discussed by examining the budgets of the temperature variance and turbulent heat flux for both phases. (C) 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.