Abstract
Dynamic chemical modifications in eukaryotic messenger RNAs (mRNAs) constitute an essential layer of gene regulation, among which N(6) -methyladenosine (m(6) A) was unveiled to be the most abundant. m(6) A functionally modulates important biological processes in various mammals and plants through the regulation of mRNA metabolism, mainly mRNA degradation and translation efficiency. Physiological functions of m(6) A methylation are diversified and affected by intricate sequence contexts and m(6) A machineries. A number of studies have dissected the functional roles and the underlying mechanisms of m(6) A modifications in regulating plant development and stress responses. Recently, it was demonstrated that the human FTO-mediated plant m(6) A removal caused dramatic yield increases in rice and potato, indicating that modulation of m(6) A methylation could be an efficient strategy for crop improvement. In this review, we summarize the current progress concerning the m(6) A-mediated regulation of crop development and stress responses, and provide an outlook on the potential application of m(6) A epitranscriptome in the future improvement of crops.