m6A Modification: A Key Epitranscriptional Regulatory Hub in Plant Reproductive Development

N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modification is a hallmark epitranscriptomic modification with dynamic and reversible properties in eukaryotes. The deposition, erasure, and recognition of m6A are coordinately regulated by methyltransferases (writers), demethylases (erasers), and binding proteins (readers), respectively. This review elaborates on the biological functions and molecular mechanisms of m6A in multiple reproductive and developmental processes of plants, including gametogenesis, embryogenesis, flowering, and seed setting. Numerous studies have verified that functional defects in core regulatory factors of m6A lead to severe developmental abnormalities during critical reproductive developmental stages in plants. On this basis, this paper further discusses the application prospects of crop improvement strategies centered on the m6A regulatory network. By dissecting the indispensable roles of m6A modification in plant reproduction and development, this study not only constructs a theoretical framework for clarifying the central functions of epitranscriptional regulation in germ cell fate determination and developmental timing control but also provides strategic references for the genetic improvement of crops.