Loss-of-function gs3 allele decreases methane emissions and increases grain yield in rice

Rice paddies are a major source of methane emissions. To meet the food demand of the growing population and to cope with global warming, reducing greenhouse gases and enhancing yields are critical. Here we demonstrate that a loss-of-function rice allele, gs3 , mitigates methane emissions from methanogens by allocating more photosynthates to the grain and less to the root and increases yield by enlarging grain size and weight. Rice paddies are a source of the potent greenhouse gas methane. The authors demonstrate that a rice variety containing naturally lost function in the gene GS3 has reduced allocation of photosynthates to roots, which results in a reduction of methane emissions during growth.