Phosphate Inhibits Acetotrophic Methanogenesis on Rice Roots

The contribution of acetate- and H₂/CO₂-dependent methanogenesis to total CH₄ production was determined in excised washed rice roots by radiolabeling, methyl fluoride inhibition, and stable carbon isotope fractionation. Addition of ≥20 mM phosphate inhibited methanogenesis, which then was exclusively from H₂/CO₂. Otherwise, acetate contributed about 50 to 60% of the total methanogenesis, demonstrating that phosphate specifically inhibited acetotrophic methanogens on rice roots.