Metabolomics for methane mitigation – a case study in biserrula (Biserrula pelecinus L.)

Methane is a driver of climate change and its production in the rumen creates an energy cost to the ruminant, making it an undesirable by-product of anaerobic microbial fermentation of feed in rumen. Biserrula (Biserrula pelecinus L.) is one among only a few pasture and forage species that have been identified as methane moderators when fermented by rumen microbes. At present, it is unclear whether metabolites in biserrula have a role in causing this effect. The objective of this study was to investigate this role. A preliminary relationship between metabolite profile and methanogenic potential was identified, and candidate me-tabolites are discovered for future reverse genetics approaches for gene discovery and for use in breeding.