Salt stress causes retarded plant growth and reduced crop yield. A complicated regulation network to response to salt stress has been evolved in plants under high salinity conditions. Ethylene is one of the most important phytohormones, playing a major role in salt stress response. An increasing number of studies have demonstrated that ethylene modulates salt tolerance through reactive oxygen species (ROS) homeostasis. Ascorbic acid (AsA) is a non-enzymatic antioxidant, contributing to ROS-scavenging and salt tolerance. Here, we mainly focus on the advances in understanding the modulation of ethylene and AsA on ROS-scavenging under salinity stress. We also review the regulators involved in the ethylene signaling pathway and AsA biosynthesis that respond to salt stress. Moreover, the AsA pool is affected by many environmental conditions, and the potential role of ethylene in AsA production is also extensively discussed. Novel insights into the roles and mechanisms of ethylene in AsA-mediated ROS homeostasis will provide critical information for improving crop salt tolerance.
Keywords: AsA; ROS scavenging; ethylene; homeostasis; salt stress.