Open AccessMethyl fluoride, an inhibitor of methane oxidation and methane production
Author(s) -
Frenzel Peter,
Bosse Ulrike
Publication year - 1996
Publication title -
fems microbiology ecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.377
H-Index - 155
eISSN - 1574-6941
pISSN - 0168-6496
DOI - 10.1111/j.1574-6941.1996.tb00330.x
Subject(s) - methanogenesis , anoxic waters , methane , environmental chemistry , biology , euryarchaeota , chemistry , ecology , biochemistry , archaea , gene
Methyl fluoride (CH 3 F) has been reported to inhibit effectively aerobic CH 4 oxidation, while not affecting methanogenesis. Currently it is applied in a variety of ecosystems, where oxidation and production of CH 4 take place simultaneously. We tested the effects of CH 3 F on both processes in a flooded soil, in wetland plants (rice, Oryza sativa , and cottontail, Typha latifolia ), and in a microbial mat. CH 4 emission from rice microcosms increased after treatment with up to 1.9% CH 3 F, but decreased to less than the initial rate after 3.3% CH 3 F had been added. In anoxic incubations of rice roots and Typha we observed in vitro an instantaneous methanogenesis that in rice was inhibited by CH 3 F. Cottontail‐associated methanogenesis was not affected by CH 3 F. In anoxic slurries of ricefield soil CH 4 production was inhibited by CH 3 F. Even at concentrations as low as 1000 ppmv CH 3 F (≈ 40 μM) methanogenesis was reduced by about 75% as compared to the control without the inhibitor. Methanogenesis could be recovered partly when CH 3 F was flushed out with N 2 . In soil slurries with CH 3 F methanogenesis could be stimulated by addition of formate, but not by acetate. Acetate accumulated in soil slurries with CH 3 F to about the same amount as did CH 4 in the control experiment without inhibitor. Methanogenesis in the hypersaline microbial mat is probably driven by methylated amines; it was not affected by CH 3 F. Hence, measurements of aerobic CH 4 oxidation may be biased if acetoclastic methanogenesis plays a significant role, and if CH 4 production and oxidation zones are closely coupled. This is to be expected especially in freshwater sediments, wetlands and ricefields.