Abstract:In order to understand the physiological function of the alternative respiratory pathway of the leaves infested by spider mite, Tetranychus urticae Koch, under salt stress, the effects of NaCl and salicylhydroxamic acid were investigated on the indirect defense response, H2O2 content, and the level of cell death of the spider mite infested-leaves under laboratory conditions. The results showed that NaCl at 200 mmol/L did not obviously affected the attractiveness of the spider mite infested-leaves to the predatory mites, Phytoseiulus persimilis, nor increased the H2O2 content and the level of cell death of the spider mite infested-leaves. However, NaCl significantly increased the level of the alternative respiratory pathway of the infested leaves. The combined treatment of 200 mmol/L NaCl and 1 mmol/L salicylhydroxamic acid significantly decreased the attractiveness of the spider mite infested-leaves to predatory mites and increased H2O2 content and the level of cell death. These results suggested that the alternative respiratory pathway could not only contribute to maintain the indirect defense response but also alleviate oxidative stress and cell death of plants in vivo when the spider mite infested-leaves were subjected to salt stress.