Chlorophyll and sugar content in wheat leaves as influenced by isoproturon application and its relationship with grain sugar content

An experiment was conducted to study the effect ofisoproturon on chlorophyll and sugar content in wheat leaves at different stages of growth. The treatments included control, handweeding (twice) and three concentrations of isoproturon (35 DAS) viz. 1.0 kg/ha, 1.0 kg/ha + 0.1% surfactant and 1.5 kg/ha. All the three isoproturon treatments resulted in decrease in chlorophyll and sugar content in wheat leaves at 30 days after herbicide application, whereas a small increase was observed in handweeding treatment. Further sampling at 60 days after herbicide application showed increasing trend in chlorophyll and sugar content in all the treatments. Sugar content in wheat grain was recorded highest in isoproturon 1.5 kg/ha (35 DAS), isoproturon 1.0 kg/ha (35 DAS) and handweeding twice (30 DAS and 60 DAS) treatments.