Current approaches to reducing greenhouse gas emissions from paddy rice primarily focus on changes in management practice. However, the team proposes to also focus on root traits to control production, conversion, and subsequent fluxes of methane and nitrous oxide to the shoot, where these gases are vented to the atmosphere.
Considering the existent phenotypic variability in root traits of rice genotypes, the team proposes the development of new rice cultivars exhibiting an effective internal O2 diffusion system which will be done through enhanced aerenchyma formation. Additionally, the development of tight barriers to impede radial O2 loss along the basal parts of the roots will increase CH4 oxidation as well as promote nitrification. As a result, there will be a reduction in the production of greenhouse gases and benefitting plant nutrient uptake.
Moreover, the development of roots with tight barriers to hinder radial O2 loss would also limit the radial diffusional entry of greenhouse gases into roots as well as reduce the plant-mediated diffusion of these gases from paddy fields.