The Roles of N6-Methyladenosine Modification in Plant-RNA Virus Interactions

N⁶-methyladenosine (m⁶A) is a dynamic post-transcriptional RNA modification. Recently, its role in viruses has led to the study of viral epitranscriptomics. m⁶A has been observed in viral genomes and alters the transcriptomes of both the host cell and virus during infection. The effects of m⁶A modifications on host plant mRNA can either increase the likelihood of viral infection or enhance the resistance of the host to the virus. However, to date, the regulatory mechanisms of m⁶A in viral infection and host immune responses have not been fully elucidated. With the development of sequencing-based biotechnologies, the study of m⁶A in plant viruses has received increasing attention. In this mini review, we summarize the positive and negative consequences of m⁶A modification in different RNA viral infections. Given its increasingly important roles in multiple viruses, m⁶A represents a new potential target for antiviral defense.