The response to aqueous solutions of isoproturon was examined on intact plants of Matricaria perforata, Apera spica-venti and Sinapis alba in greenhouse tests, comparing visual estimates of shoot phytotoxicity at 30 d after application (DAA) with measurements of fast chlorophyll fluorescence induction at 10 DAA on leaves of the same treated plants. The sensitivity was greatest from pre-emergence application to intact plants of M. perforata and A. spica-venti, whereas post-emergence sprays were relatively more active on S. alba. The use of fluorescence induction was investigated further in Petridish experiments on excised M. perforata leaf segments. The Petri-dish bioassay enabled detection of isoproturon at concentrations above 9 · 10 )7 M within 96 h after herbicide exposure. The potential for using chlorophyll fluorescence assays for the determination of isoproturon content in soil extracts is discussed.