Bisphenol A Stimulates Growth and Shoot Differentiation in Plants

Abstract

Bisphenol A (4, 4'-isopropylinediphenol), an intermediate in the production of polymers and polycarbonates and an ingredient used in plastic dental fillings, is known to be an endocrine disruptor. Bisphenol A has been shown to exert estrogenic effects in animals, but its effects in plants were not known. We thus examined whether it has phytohormone effects. A cytokinin bioassay system that assessed the growth of soybean (Glycine max cv. ‘Acme’) calli showed that bisphenol A stimulated growth, and had maximum activity at a concentration of 10-1μg ml-1. Bisphenol A also induced shoot differentiation in carrot (Daucus carota L. var. sativa DC) calli. Thus, bisphenol A showed cytokinin-like activity.