Effects of bisphenol-A and folic acid on growth, reproductive development, and DNA methylation in snapdragons (Antirrhinum majus)

Abstract

Bisphenol-A (BPA), used in the production of polycarbonate plastics, exerts complex effects on the development of organisms and on their epigenomes as a methylation disruptor. BPA is of concern due to its ubiquity in the environment. In contrast, folic acid can promote plant growth and has been shown to correct the methyl-disrupting effects of BPA in mice. We investigated the effects of prolonged exposure to BPA and folic acid on plant height, dry mass, and DNA methylation of floral tissues of Antirrhinum majus L. (snapdragons) from seedling to floral senescence. At low and medium concentrations (5 and 25 mg/L), BPA had a growth-promoting effect early in development and appeared to accelerate floral development compared with the controls. At senescence, plants treated with the low and medium concentrations of BPA had decreased dry mass compared with the controls. Folic acid promoted growth early through mid-vegetative development and also promoted early flowering. In general, the acceleration of floral development associated with the low concentration of BPA and folic acid correlated with higher DNA methylation percentages. These data suggest that prolonged exposure to BPA influences plant growth and floral development, and causes epigenetic modifications that may potentially be alleviated through the application of folic acid, thus suggesting the significance of folic acid for environmental protection.