Exploring N⁶-methyladenosine (m⁶A) modification in tree species: opportunities and challenges

N ⁶-methyladenosine (m⁶A) in eukaryotes is the most common and widespread internal modification in mRNA. The modification regulates mRNA stability, translation efficiency, and splicing, thereby fine-tuning gene regulation. In plants, m⁶A is dynamic and critical for various growth stages, embryonic development, morphogenesis, flowering, stress response, crop yield, and biomass. Although recent high-throughput sequencing approaches have enabled the rapid identification of m⁶A modification sites, the site-specific mechanism of this modification remains unclear in trees. In this review, we discuss the functional significance of m⁶A in trees under different stress conditions and discuss recent advancements in the quantification of m⁶A. Quantitative and functional insights into the dynamic aspect of m⁶A modification could assist researchers in engineering tree crops for better productivity and resistance to various stress conditions.