The Roles of N6-Methyladenosine Modification in Plant-RNA Virus Interactions

N-6-methyladenosine (m(6)A) is a dynamic post-transcriptional RNA modification. Recently, its role in viruses has led to the study of viral epitranscriptomics. m(6)A has been observed in viral genomes and alters the transcriptomes of both the host cell and virus during infection. The effects of m(6)A modifications on host plant mRNA can either increase the likelihood of viral infection or enhance the resistance of the host to the virus. However, to date, the regulatory mechanisms of m(6)A in viral infection and host immune responses have not been fully elucidated. With the development of sequencing-based biotechnologies, the study of m(6)A in plant viruses has received increasing attention. In this mini review, we summarize the positive and negative consequences of m(6)A modification in different RNA viral infections. Given its increasingly important roles in multiple viruses, m(6)A represents a new potential target for antiviral defense.