Foliar-application of α-tocopherol enhanced salt tolerance of Carex leucochlora

Several different concentrations of α-tocopherol were applied to Carex leucochlora after plants had been treated with high salinity (0.8 % NaCl) in a greenhouse for one month. The results revealed that 0.8 mM α-tocopherol treatment showed the greatest alleviation of growth inhibition and cell membrane damage induced by salt stress. In comparison with NaCl alone, the 0.8 mM α-tocopherol application significantly decreased the content of hydrogen peroxide and the rate of superoxide radical generation, and increased the content of chlorophyll b, carotenoids, free proline, and soluble protein, but had no effect on the content of chlorophyll a and soluble sugar. These results suggest that α-tocopherol could effectively protect C. leucochlora plants from salt stress damage presumably by quenching the excessive reactive oxygen species to protect the photosynthetic pigments and by enhancing the osmotic adjustment.