Methoxyl groups of plant pectin as a precursor of atmospheric methane: evidence from deuterium labelling studies.

* The observation that plants produce methane (CH4) under aerobic conditions has caused considerable controversy among the scientific community and the general public. It led to much discussion and debate not only about its contribution to the global CH4 budget but also about the authenticity of the observation itself. Previous results suggested that methoxyl groups of the abundant plant structural component pectin might play a key role in the in situ formation process of CH4.

Methane emissions from terrestrial plants under aerobic conditions.

Methane is an important greenhouse gas and its atmospheric concentration has almost tripled since pre-industrial times. It plays a central role in atmospheric oxidation chemistry and affects stratospheric ozone and water vapour levels. Most of the methane from natural sources in Earth's atmosphere is thought to originate from biological processes in anoxic environments.