Transcriptome‐wide N6‐methyladenosine profiling reveals growth–defense trade‐offs in the response of rice to brown planthopper (Nilaparvata lugens) infestation

Abstract BACKGROUND N 6 ‐Methyladenosine (m 6 A) is a common messenger RNA (mRNA) modification that affects various physiological processes in stress responses. However, the role of m 6 A modifications in plants responses to herbivore stress remains unclear. RESULTS Here, we found that an infestation of brown planthopper ( Nilaparvata lugens ) female adults enhanced the resistance of rice to N. lugens . The m 6 A methylome analysis of N. lugens ‐infested and uninfested rice samples was performed to explore the interaction between rice and N. lugens . The m 6 A methylation mainly occurred in genes that were actively expressed in rice following N. lugens infestation, while an analysis of the whole‐genomic mRNA distribution of m 6 A showed that N. lugens infestation caused an overall decrease in the number of m 6 A methylation sites across the chromosomes. The m 6 A methylation of genes involved in the m 6 A modification machinery and several defense‐related phytohormones (jasmonic acid and salicylic acid) pathways was increased in N. lugens ‐infested rice compared to that in uninfested rice. In contrast, m 6 A modification levels of growth‐related phytohormone (auxin and gibberellin) biosynthesis‐related genes were significantly attenuated during N. lugens infestation, accompanied by the down‐regulated expression of these transcripts, indicating that rice growth was restricted during N. lugens attack to rapidly optimize resource allocation for plant defense. Integrative analysis of the differential patterns of m 6 A methylation and the corresponding transcripts showed a positive correlation between m 6 A methylation and transcriptional regulation. CONCLUSION The m 6 A modification is an important strategy for regulating the expression of genes involved in rice defense and growth during rice– N. lugens interactions. These findings provide new ideas for formulating strategies to control herbivorous pests. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.