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Abstract
This study aimed to investigate the response of vegetative growth, yield, and some metabolic constituents of maize grains cv. Single Cross 124 to foliar applications of salicylic acid (SA; 100, 200, and 400 mg L−1) and thiourea (TU; 500, 1000, and 1500 mgL−1), two bioregulators, either alone or in combination. The foliar application of SA and TU alone significantly increased stem diameter, number of leaves / plant, leaf area, total dry weight / plant, leaf area index, net assimilation rate, specific leaf weight, and yield (i.e., ear length, ear diameter, number of grains / row, number of rows / ear, 100-grain weight, grain yield / plant, grain yield / fed (1 feddan = 4200 m2), harvest index, and shelling percentage) by increasing SA or TU concentrations up to 200 and 1500 mg L−1, respectively. Salicylic acid and TU, when applied alone, significantly improved the nutritional value and quality of maize grains by increasing crude protein, total soluble sugars, total free amino acids, and total soluble phenols.