Interspecific Variation in Methane Emissions Under Wind Exposure from Two Cultivated Species of Brassicaceae

Aerobically produced methane (CH4) from plants is influenced by several environmental factors, but wind velocity has yet to be investigated for its potential role in plant-derived CH4 emissions. We tested three wind velocities (0, 6, and 12 km h−1) on a wind-susceptible, Raphanus sativus (radish), and a wind-tolerant, Brassica oleracea var. sabellica (kale) plant species to investigate the effects of wind on plant-derived CH4, and to compare how varying tolerances to wind affect CH4 emissions. We found that wind exposure resulted in a decrease in leaf surface area, root and total dry mass, and an increase in leaf water potential for radish plants, while kale plants were affected minimally by wind. Radish plants emitted more CH4 than kale plants, although the effect of wind velocity on CH4 emissions and several of the measured traits was insignificant. Our study revealed that short-term exposure to lower wind velocities is generally insufficient to induce significant changes in plant growth and functioning. However, we showed that radish plants were more stressed by exposure to wind compared to kale plants, as indicated by lower plant growth and higher CH4 emissions.