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Exogenous application of antioxidants can be helpful for plants to resist salinity, which can be a potentially simple, economical, and culturally feasible approach, compared with introgression and genetic engineering. Foliar spraying of alpha-tocopherol (α-tocopherol) is an approach to improve plant growth under salinity stress. Alpha-tocopherol acts as an antioxidant preventing salinity-induced cellular oxidation. This study was designed to investigate the negative effects of salinity (0 and 120mM NaCl) on linseed ( Linum usitatissimum L.) and their alleviation by foliar spraying of α-tocopherol (0, 100, and 200mg L -1 ). Seeds of varieties "Chandni and Roshni" were grown in sand-filled plastic pots, laid in a completely randomized design in a factorial arrangement, and each treatment was replicated three times. Salinity significantly affected linseed morphology and yield by reducing shoot and root dry weights, photosynthetic pigment (Chl. a , Chl. b , total Chl., and carotenoids) contents, mineral ion (Ca 2+ , K + ) uptake, and 100-seed weight. Concomitantly, salinity increased Na + , proline, soluble protein, peroxidase, catalase, and superoxide dismutase activities in both varieties. Conversely, the growth and yield of linseed varieties were significantly restored by foliar spraying of α-tocopherol under saline conditions, improving shoot and root dry matter accumulation, photosynthetic pigment, mineral ion, proline, soluble protein contents, peroxidase, catalase, superoxide dismutase activities, and 100-seed weight. Moreover, foliar spray of α-tocopherol alleviated the effects of salinity stress by reducing the Na + concentration and enhancing K + and Ca 2+ uptake. The Chandni variety performed better than the Roshni, for all growth and physiological parameters studied. Foliar spray of α-tocopherol (200mg L -1 ) alleviated salinity effects by improving the antioxidant potential of linseed varieties, which ultimately restored growth and yield. Therefore, the use of α-tocopherol may enhance the productivity of linseed and other crops under saline soils., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest. The reviewer SF declared a shared affiliation with the author SF to the handling editor at the time of review., (Copyright © 2022 Abdullah, Mahmood, Bibi, Naqve, Javaid, Zia, Jabbar, Ud-Din, Attia, Khan, Al-Doss and Fiaz.)

Foliar spray of antioxidants is a pragmatic approach to combat various effects of salinity stress in agricultural crops. A pot trial was conducted to examine the effect of exogenously applied α-tocopherol (α-Toc) as foliar spray to induce morpho-physiological modulations in two varieties (Noori and Sabzpari) of okra grown under salt stress conditions (0 mM and 100 mM NaCl). After 36 days of salinity treatments, four levels (0, 100, 200 and 300 mg L -1 ) of α-tocopherol were sprayed. Salt stress significantly reduced root and shoot fresh and dry biomass, photosynthesis rate ( A ), transpiration rate ( E ), water use efficiency ( A / E ), stomatal conductance, internal CO 2 concentration ( C i )and C i / C a ) , and photosynthetic pigments. Foliar spray of α-tocopherol proved effective in improving the growth of okra by significantly enhancing root dry weight, root length, shoot fresh weight, shoot length, Chl. a , Chl. b , Total chl., β-Car., Total Car., A, E, A / E, C i , and C i / C a , leaf and root Ca 2+ and K + ion content, total soluble sugars, non-reducing sugars and total soluble protein content by significantly reducing root Na + ion content. The Okra variety Noori performed better than Sabzpari in the examined attributes, and 300 mg L -1 application of α-tocopherol was more pronounced in improving the growth of okra by alleviating salinity effects. Therefore, the use of α-tocopherol (300 mg L -1 ) as a foliar spray is recommended to improve okra production in saline soils., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2021 Naqve, Wang, Shahbaz, Mahmood, Bibi and Fiaz.)