Lanshuo Wang

Zoysiagrass (Zoysia spp.) and its hybrids are known for their low maintenance requirements and are widely utilized as warm-season turfgrass, which offers considerable ecological, environmental, and economic benefits in various environments. Molecular genetic approaches, including the identification and genetic engineering of valuable gene resources, present a promising opportunity to enhance the quality and performance of zoysiagrass. This review surveys the recent molecular genetic discoveries in zoysiagrass species, with a focus on elucidating plant responses to various abiotic and biotic stresses. Furthermore, this review explores the notable advancements in gene function exploration to reduce the maintenance demands of zoysiagrass cultivation. In addition, we discuss the achievements and potential of contemporary molecular and genetic tools, such as omics approaches and gene editing technologies, in developing zoysiagrass cultivars with desirable traits. Overall, this comprehensive review highlights future strategies that may leverage current molecular insights to accelerate zoysiagrass improvement and further promote sustainable turf management practices.

N6-adenosine methylation (m⁶A) is a prevalent form of RNA modification found in the expressed transcripts of many eukaryotic organisms. Moreover, m⁶A methylation is a dynamic and reversible process that requires the functioning of various proteins and their complexes that are evolutionarily conserved between species and include methylases, demethylases, and m⁶A-binding proteins. Over the past decade, the m⁶A methylation process in plants has been extensively studied and the understanding thereof has drastically increased, although the regulatory function of some components relies on information derived from animal systems. Notably, m⁶A has been found to be involved in a variety of factors in RNA processing, such as RNA stability, alternative polyadenylation, and miRNA regulation. The circadian clock in plants is a molecular timekeeping system that regulates the daily and rhythmic activity of many cellular and physiological processes in response to environmental changes such as the day-night cycle. The circadian clock regulates the rhythmic expression of genes through post-transcriptional regulation of mRNA. Recently, m⁶A methylation has emerged as an additional layer of post-transcriptional regulation that is necessary for the proper functioning of the plant circadian clock. In this review, we have compiled and summarized recent insights into the molecular mechanisms behind m⁶A modification and its various roles in the regulation of RNA. We discuss the potential role of m⁶A modification in regulating the plant circadian clock and outline potential future directions for the study of mRNA methylation in plants. A deeper understanding of the mechanism of m⁶A RNA regulation and its role in plant circadian clocks will contribute to a greater understanding of the plant circadian clock.