Assessment of Leaf Characteristics and Root to Shoot Ratio in Above and Below Ground Interference of Wheat ( Triticum aestivum ) and Different Densities of Wild Oat ( Avena fatua )

A pot experiment was designed to investigate the effects of full, above and below ground interactions of wheat with wild oat on leaf characteristics and root to shoot ratio. This experiment was conducted as a factorial based on randomized complete design with four replications. The treatments included four interference levels (above ground, below ground, above and below ground and check wheat and wild oat) and four wild oat densities (2, 4, 6 and 8 plants/pot).The effects of full and root interference on wheat and wild oat traits was greater than shoot interference. For both species, full and below ground interaction significantly decreased the number of leaves, flag leaf area and chlorophyll content of flag leaf compared to above ground interaction and control. All traits of wild oat were reduced by above ground interaction compared to control. Number of leaves of wheat and wild oat showed greatest susceptibility to interaction treatments. There was no significant different between full and root interference. When wild oat density increased, the number of leaves, flag leaf area and chlorophyll content of flag leaf of wheat decreased. With strongest competition followed by enhanced wild oat density, root to shoot ratio in wheat and wild oat increased, which indicates more susceptibility of shoot than root to interference mean competition. This ratio for wild oat was more than wheat, thus, it is concluded that wild oat has higher rooting ability compared to wheat.