Foliar application of thiourea, salicylic acid, and kinetin alleviate salinity stress in maize grown under etiolated and de-etiolated conditions

Abstract Salinity stress and the absence of light negatively impact growth development plants. Morpho-physiological biochemical attributes maize ( Zea mays L.) get severely affected by salt subdue light. Therefore, a pot experiment was conducted under prevailing environmental conditions Turbat, Balochistan, to explore etiolation de-etiolation response hybrid (SP-17S23) salinity exogenous application plant regulators (PGRs). Maize seedlings in three sets, i.e., non-etiolated, etiolated, de-etiolated, subjected (120 mM NaCl) after 15 days seed germination. After week, were sprayed with optimized levels different PGRs, including thiourea (TU; 10 mM), salicylic acid (SA; 250 µM), kinetin (KIN; 3 µM). hampered morpho-physiological attributes. However, PGRs foliar treatment proved effective, thus ameliorating on seedlings. Growth (root/shoot length, leaf area, root/shoot fresh dry weight), photosynthetic pigments (Chl a, b carotenoids) significantly enhanced especially TU KIN treatments. oxidative damage parameters, malondialdehyde (MDA) hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O ), decreased thereby protecting etiolated conditions. Overall, tolerance potential plants consideration variations remain key concern for developing healthy vigor seedling strands.