A review of m⁶A modification in plant development and potential quality improvement

N6-methyladenosine (m⁶A) represents the most prevalent internal modification observed in eukaryotic mRNAs. As a pivotal regulator of gene expression, m⁶A exerts influence over a number of processes, including splicing, transport, translation, degradation, and the stability of mRNAs. It thus plays a crucial role in plant development and resistance to biotic and abiotic stressors. The writers, erasers, and readers of m⁶A, which deposit, eliminate and decode this modification, are also of critical importance and have been identified and characterized in multiple plant species. The advent of next-generation sequencing (NGS) and m⁶A detection technologies has precipitated a surge in research on m⁶A in recent years. Extensive research has elucidated the specific roles of m⁶A in plants and its underlying molecular mechanisms, indicating significant potential for crop improvement. This review presents a comprehensive overview of recent studies on m⁶A and its regulatory proteins in plant development and stress tolerance. It highlights the potential applications of this modification and its writers, erasers, and readers for plant improvement, with a particular focus on leaf development, floral transition, trichome morphogenesis, fruit ripening, and resilience to pests, diseases and abiotic stresses.