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The growing issue of salinity is a significant threat to global agriculture, affecting diverse regions worldwide. Nitric oxide (NO) serves as an essential signal molecule in regulating photosynthetic performance under physiological and stress conditions. The present study reveals the protective effects of different concentrations (0-300 µM) of sodium nitroprusside (SNP, a donor of NO) on the functions of the main complexes within the photosynthetic apparatus of maize ( Zea mays L. Kerala) under salt stress (150 mM NaCl). The data showed that SNP alleviates salt-induced oxidative stress and prevents changes in the fluidity of thylakoid membranes (Laurdan GP) and energy redistribution between the two photosystems (77K chlorophyll fluorescence ratio F 735 /F 685 ). Chlorophyll fluorescence measurements demonstrated that the foliar spray with SNP under salt stress prevents the decline of photosystem II (PSII) open reaction centers (qP) and improves their efficiency (Φexc), thereby influencing Q A - reoxidation. The data also revealed that SNP protects the rate constants for two pathways of Q A - reoxidation (k 1 and k 2 ) from the changes caused by NaCl treatment alone. Additionally, there is a predominance of Q A - interaction with plastoquinone in comparison to the recombination of electrons in Q A Q B - with the oxygen-evolving complex (OEC). The analysis of flash oxygen evolution showed that SNP treatment prevents a salt-induced 10% increase in PSII centers in the S 0 state, i.e., protects the initial S 0 -S 1 state distribution, and the modification of the Mn cluster in the OEC. Moreover, this study demonstrates that SNP-induced defense occurs on both the donor and acceptor sides of the PSII, leading to the protection of overall photosystems performance (PI ABS ) and efficient electron transfer from the PSII donor side to the reduction of PSI end electron acceptors (PItotal). This study clearly shows that the optimal protection under salt stress occurs at approximately 50-63 nmoles NO/g FW in leaves, corresponding to foliar spray with 50-150 µM SNP.

Nitric oxide (NO) is an important molecule in regulating plant growth, development and photosynthetic performance. This study investigates the impact of varying concentrations (0-300 µM) of sodium nitroprusside (SNP, a donor of NO) on the functions of the photosynthetic apparatus in sorghum ( Sorghum bicolor L. Albanus) and maize ( Zea mays L. Kerala) under physiological conditions. Analysis of the chlorophyll fluorescence signals (using PAM and the JIP-test) revealed an increased amount of open PSII reaction centers (qP increased), but it did not affect the number of active reaction centers per PSII antenna chlorophyll (RC/ABS). In addition, the smaller SNP concentrations (up to 150 μM) alleviated the interaction of Q A with plastoquine in maize, while at 300 μM it predominates the electron recombination on Q A Q B - , with the oxidized S 2 (or S 3 ) states of oxygen evolving in complex ways in both studied plant species. At the same time, SNP application stimulated the electron flux-reducing end electron acceptors at the PSI acceptor side per reaction center (REo/RC increased up to 26%) and the probability of their reduction (φRo increased up to 20%). An increase in MDA (by about 30%) and H 2 O 2 contents was registered only at the highest SNP concentration (300 µM). At this concentration, SNP differentially affected the amount of P700 + in studied plant species, i.e., it increased (by 10%) in maize but decreased (by 16%) in sorghum. The effects of SNP on the functions of the photosynthetic apparatus were accompanied by an increase in carotenoid content in both studied plants. Additionally, data revealed that SNP-induced changes in the photosynthetic apparatus differed between maize and sorghum, suggesting species specificity for SNP's impact on plants.

In this study, the impacts of the foliar application of different sodium nitroprusside (SNP, as a donor of nitric oxide) concentrations (0-300 µM) on two sorghum varieties ( Sorghum bicolor L. Albanus and Sorghum bicolor L. Shamal) under salt stress (150 mM NaCl) were investigated. The data revealed that salinity leads to an increase in oxidative stress markers and damage of the membrane integrity, accompanied by a decrease in the chlorophyll content, the open photosystem II (PSII) centers, and the performance indexes (PI ABS and PI total ), as well as having an influence on the electron flux reducing photosystem I (PSI) end acceptors (REo/RC). Spraying with SNP alleviated the NaCl toxicity on the photosynthetic functions; the protection was concentration-dependent, and greater in Shamal than in Albanus, i.e., variety specific. Furthermore, the experimental results revealed that the degree of SNP protection under salt stress also depends on the endogenous nitric oxide (NO) amount in leaves, the number of active reaction centers per PSII antenna chlorophylls, the enhanced electron flux reducing end acceptors at the acceptor side of PSI, as well as the stimulation of the cyclic electron transport around PSI. The results showed better protection in both varieties of sorghum for SNP concentrations up to 150 µM, which corresponds to about a 50% increase in the endogenous NO leaf content in comparison to the control plants. Our study provides valuable insight into the molecular mechanisms underlying SNP-induced salt tolerance in sorghum varieties and might be a practical approach to correcting salt intolerance.

The present study shows the effect of salinity on the functions of thylakoid membranes from two hybrid lines of Paulownia : Paulownia tomentosa x fortunei and Paulownia elongate x elongata , grown in a Hoagland solution with two NaCl concentrations (100 and 150 mM) and different exposure times (10 and 25 days). We observed inhibition of the photochemical activities of photosystem I (DCPIH 2 → MV) and photosystem II (H 2 O → BQ) only after the short treatment (10 days) with the higher NaCl concentration. Data also revealed alterations in the energy transfer between pigment-protein complexes (fluorescence emission ratios F 735 /F 685 and F 695/ F 685 ), the kinetic parameters of the oxygen-evolving reactions (initial S 0 -S 1 state distribution, misses (α), double hits (β) and blocked centers (S B )). Moreover, the experimental results showed that after prolonged treatment with NaCl Paulownia tomentosa x fortunei adapted to the higher concentration of NaCl (150 mM), while this concentration is lethal for Paulownia elongata x elongata . This study demonstrated the relationship between the salt-induced inhibition of the photochemistry of both photosystems and the salt-induced changes in the energy transfer between the pigment-protein complexes and the alterations in the Mn cluster of the oxygen-evolving complex under salt stress.

The impacts of different NaCl concentrations (0-250 mM) on the photosynthesis of new hybrid lines of maize ( Zea mays L. Kerala) and sorghum ( Sorghum bicolor L. Shamal) were investigated. Salt-induced changes in the functions of photosynthetic apparatus were assessed using chlorophyll a fluorescence (PAM and OJIP test) and P 700 photooxidation. Greater differences between the studied species in response to salinization were observed at 150 mM and 200 mM NaCl. The data revealed the stronger influence of maize in comparison to sorghum on the amount of closed PSII centers (1-qp) and their efficiency (Φ exc ), as well as on the effective quantum yield of the photochemical energy conversion of PSII (Φ PSII ). Changes in the effective antenna size of PSII (ABS/RC), the electron flux per active reaction center (REo/RC) and the electron transport flux further Q A (ETo/RC) were also registered. These changes in primary PSII photochemistry influenced the electron transport rate (ETR) and photosynthetic rate (parameter R Fd ), with the impacts being stronger in maize than sorghum. Moreover, the lowering of the electron transport rate from Q A to the PSI end electron acceptors (REo/RC) and the probability of their reduction (φRo) altered the PSI photochemical activity, which influenced photooxidation of P 700 and its decay kinetics. The pigment content and stress markers of oxidative damage were also determined. The data revealed a better salt tolerance of sorghum than maize, associated with the structural alterations in the photosynthetic membranes and the stimulation of the cyclic electron flow around PSI at higher NaCl concentrations. The relationships between the decreased pigment content, increased levels of stress markers and different inhibition levels of the function of both photosystems are discussed.