Highlight: This research describes a novel mechanism of exogenous putrescine regulate cyclic 28 electron flow through ATP generation and Δ pH reduction to protect photosynthetic apparatus in 29 salt-stressed cucumber seedlings. 30 Abstract 31 When plants suffer from abiotic stresses, cyclic electron flow (CEF) is induced for 32 photoprotection. Putrescine (Put), a main polyamine in chloroplasts, plays a critical role in 33 stress tolerance. To elucidate the mechanism of Put regulating CEF for salt-tolerance in 34 cucumber leaves, we measured chlorophyll fluorescence, P700 redox state, ATP and NADPH 35 accumulation and so on. The maximum photochemical efficiency of PSII (Fv/Fm) was not 36 influenced by NaCl and/or Put, but the activity of PSI reaction center (P700) was seriously 37 inhibited by NaCl. Salt stress induced high level of CEF, moreover, NaCl and Put treated 38 plants exhibited much higher CEF activity and ATP accumulation than single salt-treated 39 plants to provide adequate ATP/NADPH ratio for plants growth. Furthermore, Put decreased 40 the trans-membrane proton gradient (ΔpH), accompanied by reducing the pH-dependent 41 non-photochemical quenching (qE) and increasing efficient quantum yield of PSII (Y(II)). 42 The ratio of NADP + /NADPH in salt stressed leaves was significantly increased by Put, 43 indicating that Put relieved over-reduction pressure at PSI accepter side. Taken together, our 44 results suggest that exogenous Put enhances CEF to supply extra ATP for PSI recovery and 45 CO 2 assimilation, decreases Δ pH for electron transport related proteins staying active, and 46 enable the non-photochemical quenching transformed into photochemical quenching.47