| Summary: | <i>Cyclocarya paliurus</i> is commonly used to treat diabetes in China. However, the natural habitats of <i>C. paliurus</i> are typically affected by salt stress. Previous studies showed that nitric oxide (NO) level was related to salt tolerance of <i>C. paliurus</i>, and its synthesis was induced by exogenous hydrogen sulfide. However, the effects of different NO donors in alleviating the negative effect of salt stress are still unclear. In the present study, <i>C. paliurus</i> seedlings pretreated with three NO donors (S-nitroso-N-acetylpenicillamine, SNAP and S-nitrosoglutathione, GSNO and sodium nitroprusside, SNP) were exposed to salt stress, and then, the total biomass, chlorophyll fluorescence parameters, NO and glutathione levels, oxidative damage, and antioxidant enzyme activities were investigated. The results showed that pretreatment of NO donors maintained chlorophyll fluorescence and attenuated the loss of plant biomass under salt stress, and the best performance was observed in <i>C. paliurus</i> under SNP treatment. We also found that pretreatment of NO donors further increased the endogenous NO content and nitrate reductase (NR) activity compared with salt treatment. Moreover, pretreatment with NO donors, especially SNP, alleviated salt-induced oxidative damage, as indicated by lowered lipid peroxidation, through an enhanced antioxidant system including glutathione accumulation and increased antioxidant enzyme activities. The supply of NO donors is an interesting strategy for alleviating the negative effect of salt on <i>C. paliurus</i>. Our data provide new evidence contributing to the current understanding of NO-induced salt stress tolerance.
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