Effect of exogenously applied alpha-tocopherol on vital agronomic, physiological and biochemical attributes of Lentil ( Lens culinaris Medik.) under induced drought stress

Abstract Water being a vital part of cell protoplasm plays a significant role in sustaining life on earth; drastic changes in climatic condition leads to limit the availability of water and causing other environmental chaos. Alpha-tocopherol being a powerful antioxidant plays a vital role in scavenging the ill effects of oxidative stress. A pot experiment was conducted by exposing lentil cultivar (Punjab-2009) to varying levels of induced drought stress, sprinkled with α-tocopherol 100, 200 and 300 mg/L. Induced water deficit stress conditions caused a pronounced decline in growth parameters including absolute growth rate (AGR), leaf area index (LAI), leaf area ratio (LAR), root shoot ratio (RSR), relative growth rate (RGR), chlorophyll a, b, total chlorophyll content, carotenoids and soluble protein content (SPC) which were significantly enhanced by exogenously applied α-tocopherol. Moreover, a significant increase was reported in total proline content (TPC), soluble sugar content (SSC), glycine betaine (GB) content, endogenous tocopherol levels, ascorbate peroxidase (APX), catalase (CAT) peroxidase (POD) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities. On contrary, exogenously applied α-tocopherol significantly reduced the concentrations of malondialdehyde (MDA) and hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ). In conclusion, it was confirmed that exogenously applied α-tocopherol under induced drought stress regimes ameliorated drought stress tolerance potential of lentil cultivar to a great extent; by enhancing growth, physiological and biochemical attributes.