Plant exposure to stress results in the decomposition of their cell membrane phospholipids, and
therefore it can elevate the level of EA (ethanolamine) in the cell, and this elevated level of EA induces an alarm
response that activates cellular resistance and tolerance mechanisms. In the present study, in vitro cultured
tobacco plants (Nicotiana rustica L.) were pretreated with ethanolamine (EA) before salt treatment. After
3 weeks of salt treatment (200 mM NaCl), the plants pretreated with exogenous EA showed the elevated levels
of SOD, CAT and APX activity compared with unpretreated plants. Furthermore, total antioxidant capacity,
fresh and dry weight and the content of photosynthetic pigments were also increased. In contrast, H2O2 content
decreased under similar conditions. According to the results of this study, it can be suggested that EA pretreat
ment increased salt tolerance of tobacco plants at least partly by stimulation of antioxidative responses.