Genome‐Wide Identification of m ⁶ A Regulatory Gene Family in Kenaf and Reveals HcYTH21 as a Positive Regulator of Salt Stress

N6‐methyladenosine (m 6 A) regulatory genes are widespread in plants and play crucial roles in abiotic stress responses. However, these genes remain largely unexplored in kenaf ( Hibiscus cannabinus L.), an economically important fiber crop. In this study, we conducted a genome‐wide identification and comprehensive analysis of m 6 A regulatory genes in kenaf, uncovering 44 members, including 10 writers, 13 erasers, and 21 readers. These genes were unevenly distributed across 18 chromosomes. Through comprehensive analyses of collinearity, physicochemical properties, gene structure, and cis ‐acting elements in the promoter regions, we observed evolutionary conservation and enrichment of stress‐ and hormone‐responsive elements among these genes. Notably, under abiotic stress and plant hormone treatment, m 6 A regulatory genes displayed distinct expression patterns, with the m 6 A readers gene HcYTH21 being strongly induced. We subsequently cloned HcYTH21 and generated its overexpression lines in both Arabidopsis and kenaf hairy roots. Overexpression of HcYTH21 enhanced salt tolerance in both Arabidopsis and kenaf, whereas virus‐induced gene silencing (VIGS) of HcYTH21 significantly impaired salt tolerance. Under salt stress, HcYTH21 ‐silenced plants showed decreased activities of antioxidant enzymes (SOD, CAT, and POD), downregulated expression of salt stress‐related genes, and increased accumulation of H 2 O 2 and O 2 − accumulation, collectively contributing to reduced salt tolerance. Furthermore, HcYTH21 likely binds to the transcripts of positive salt‐stress regulators, thereby stabilizing their mRNAs and promoting stress adaptation. This study first systematically analyzes the m 6 A regulatory gene family in kenaf and provides new insights into its roles in salt stress adaptation.