Effect of CMH on Growth and Enzyme Activity in Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) at Different Growth Stages and Light Intensities

Pot experiments were conducted over 3 successive seasons using wheat Giza 155 grown in normal or low (50 % of normal) light intensity. Concentrations of 50, 100, 500, 1000 or 2500 ppm CMH were sprayed at tillering, early stem extension, late stem extension or heading. Grain weight/plant, specific grain weight, grain number/ear and ear number/plant were increased with lower concentrations of CMH treatments only at the first 2 stages under varied light intensity. During both tillering and early stem extension, CMH spraying increased activities of α-amylase and β-fructofuranosidase in leaves leading to more accumulation of total carbohydrates in grains and consequently more grain production/plant. Such effect occurred with 50–500 ppm CMH under normal light intensity as well as with all concentrations of this compound under low intensity. Meanwhile, 1000 and 2500 ppm CMH resulted in growth inhibition.