2,4-Dichlorphenoxicacetic Acid at Low Concentrations Enhances Reproductive Ability and Oxidative Stress Resistance of Yeast Saccharomyces Cerevisiae

2,4-dichlorphenoxicacetic acid (2,4-D) is one of the most widely used herbicides withwell documented toxic effects on non-target organisms. In this study, the effect of lowconcentrations of 2,4-D on reproductive activity and resistance of yeast S. cerevisiae to oxidativestress was evaluated. Supplementation of the cultivation medium with 0.1-100 µM 2,4-D did notaffect the rate of yeast growth. In early stationary phase, yeast cultures grown with 0.1 and 1 µM2,4-D had higher number of reproductively active cells than control ones (without 2,4-D). Inexponential phase, S. cerevisiae cells grown in the presence of 1-100 µM 2,4-D were more resistantto hydrogen peroxide comparing to control ones. Thus, the herbicide increased reproductivepotential and cross-resistance to oxidative stress in yeast but the effective concentrations of 2,4-Dwere different for these phenomena. In summary, the results suggest possible involvement ofcertain hormetic mechanisms in the influence of 2,4-D at low concentrations on yeast