The m(6)A reader MhYTP2 regulates MdMLO19 mRNA stability and antioxidant genes translation efficiency conferring powdery mildew resistance in apple

N(6)‐methyladenosine (m(6)A) reader protein plays an important role in trichome morphology, developmental timing and morphogenesis in Arabidopsis. However, the function of m(6)A readers in plant‐microbe interaction remains unclear. Here, a Malus YTH‐domain family protein MhYTP2 was initially characterized as an m(6)A reader. MhYTP2 overexpression increased mRNA m(6)A modification level and translation efficiency. The m(6)A in the exon regions appeared to destabilize the mRNAs, whereas m(6)A in the untranslated regions positively correlated with the associated mRNA abundance. MhYTP2 overexpression enhanced apple powdery mildew resistance, possibly by rapidly degrading the bound mRNAs of MdMLO19 and MdMLO19‐X1 and improving the translation efficiency of the antioxidant genes. To conclude, the results shed light on the apple m(6)A profile, the effect of MhYTP2 on m(6)A profile, and the m(6)A roles in MdMLO19 and MdMLO19‐X1 mRNAs stability and glutamate dehydrogenase 1‐like MdGDH1L mRNA translation efficiency.