The role of m6A in plant development, stress response, and agricultural practices

N6-methyladenosine (m 6 A) modification, the most abundant internal modification in messenger RNA (mRNA) and long non-coding RNA (lncRNA), has emerged as a critical epitranscriptomic regulatory mechanism in eukaryotes. While the importance of m 6 A modification in various biological processes has been recognized, a comprehensive understanding of its diverse roles in plant biology and agricultural applications remains fragmented. This review analyzes recent advances in m 6 A modification's biological functions in plants. m 6 A modification plays crucial roles in multiple aspects of plant life, including seed germination, organ development, and reproductive structure formation. Furthermore, m 6 A has been found to significantly influence plant responses to environmental stresses, including salt, drought, temperature, and heavy metal exposure. We also uncover m 6 A involvement in important agricultural traits. This review provides insights into the mechanistic understanding of m 6 A modification in plants and highlights its applications in agricultural improvement, offering a foundation for future research in crop enhancement and stress resistance.