title: No evidence for substantial aerobic methane emission by terrestrial plants: a 13C-labelling approach.
abstract: * The results of a single publication stating that terrestrial plants emit methane has sparked a discussion in several scientific journals, but an independent test has not yet been performed. * Here it is shown, with the use of the stable isotope (13)C and a laser-based measuring technique, that there is no evidence for substantial aerobic methane emission by terrestrial plants, maximally 0.3% (0.4 ng g(-1) h(-1)) of the previously published values. * Data presented here indicate that the contribution of terrestrial plants to global methane emission is very small at best. * Therefore, a revision of carbon sequestration accounting practices based on the earlier reported contribution of methane from terrestrial vegetation is redundant.
authors.affiliation: Plant Research International, PO Box 16, 6700 AA, Wageningen, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Tom A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Dueck
authors.affiliation: IsoLife, PO Box 349, 6700 AH, Wageningen, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Ries
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: De Visser
authors.affiliation: Plant Ecophysiology, Utrecht University, PO Box 800.84, 3508 TB, Utrecht, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Hendrik
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Poorter
authors.affiliation: Molecular & Laser Physics, Radboud University, Toernooiveld 1, 6525 ED Nijmegen, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Persijn
authors.affiliation: IsoLife, PO Box 349, 6700 AH, Wageningen, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Antonie
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gorissen
authors.affiliation: Plant Research International, PO Box 16, 6700 AA, Wageningen, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Willem
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: De Visser
authors.affiliation: Plant Dynamics, Englaan 8, 6703 EW, Wageningen, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Ad
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Schapendonk
authors.affiliation: Plant Research International, PO Box 16, 6700 AA, Wageningen, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Verhagen
authors.affiliation: Plant Research International, PO Box 16, 6700 AA, Wageningen, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Snel
authors.affiliation: Molecular & Laser Physics, Radboud University, Toernooiveld 1, 6525 ED Nijmegen, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Frans J M
authors.initials: FJM
authors.lastname: Harren
authors.affiliation: Molecular & Laser Physics, Radboud University, Toernooiveld 1, 6525 ED Nijmegen, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Anthony K Y
authors.initials: AKY
authors.lastname: Ngai
authors.affiliation: Plant Research International, PO Box 16, 6700 AA, Wageningen, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Francel
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Verstappen
authors.affiliation: Plant Research International, PO Box 16, 6700 AA, Wageningen, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Harro
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bouwmeester
authors.affiliation: Plant Ecophysiology, Utrecht University, PO Box 800.84, 3508 TB, Utrecht, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Laurentius A C J
authors.initials: LACJ
authors.lastname: Voesenek
authors.affiliation: Plant Research International, PO Box 16, 6700 AA, Wageningen, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Adrie
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Van Der Werf
mesh_terms: D000332:Aerobiosis; D002247:Carbon Isotopes / Q000378:metabolism*; D017752:Greenhouse Effect; D007553:Isotope Labeling; D007700:Kinetics; D007834:Lasers; D008697:Methane / Q000378:metabolism*; D010944:Plants / Q000378:metabolism*; D013045:Species Specificity
chemical_list: D002247:Carbon Isotopes; D008697:Methane