In addition, some physiological parameters were determined in the stress-treated plants with FLU or c-PTIO treatment. After 4 weeks of FLU exposure, shoot and root Na+ concentrations [Figure 8B; F(7,72) = 333.37, P < 0.05] were significantly increased in the inoculated plants under saline–alkaline stress, but shoot and root K+ concentrations [Figure 8C; F(7,72) = 94.66, P < 0.05] was evidently decreased in the inoculated plants under the stress, thereby leading to higher shoot [Figure 8D; F(3,36) = 89.93, P < 0.05] and root [Figure 8E; F(3,36) = 231.41, P < 0.05] Na+/K+ ratios. However, there was no significant difference in these parameters between the non-inoculated and FLU-treated inoculated plants. Furthermore, shoot Fe concentrations of non-inoculated plants did not differ significantly from the FLU-treated inoculated plants (Figure 8F). Similarly, root Fe concentrations were no significant difference between the non-inoculated and FLU-treated inoculated plants (Figure 8G). Moreover, the Na+ and K+ concentrations, Na+/K+ ratios as well as Fe concentrations were also determined in c-PTIO-treated plants. The changing tendency of physiological parameters in the c-PTIO-treated inoculated plants displayed the similarities with the results observed for the FLU-treated inoculated plants, whereas these negative effects was notably aggravated by c-PTIO treatment. Concomitantly, either FLU or c-PTIO treatment significantly reduced total chlorophyll content [Figure 9A; F(3,36) = 147.13, P < 0.05] and photosynthetic parameters including Fv/Fm [Figure 9B; F(3,36) = 422.56, P < 0.05], ΦPSII [Figure 9C; F(3,36) = 166.62, P < 0.05] and Pn [Figure 9D; F(3,36) = 107.68, P < 0.05] in the inoculated plants under the stress compared with the untreated inoculated plants. As the photosynthetic apparatus, fully swollen chloroplasts occurred in the leaves of non-inoculated plants under the stress, whereas chloroplast ultrastructure of the inoculated leaves was not severely damaged by saline–alkaline stress (Figures 9E–L). When plants were treated with FLU or c-PTIO, the number of grana stacking was evidently decreased in the inoculated plants under the stress. However, the damages were even further increased in the c-PTIO-treated inoculated plants. These results implied the roles of ABA and NO in the SA03-induced stress tolerance of plants.