Re: How does sugar water affect the growth and development of a plant?

Watering a plant with sugar water will usually harm it because it makes soil 
water less available to the plant. In technical terms, it lowers the water 
potential of the soil water by lowering the osmotic potential. Water flows from 
higher to lower water potential. The water potential in the plant must be lower 
than the soil water potential in order for water to flow from the soil into the 
plant.

Plant roots are not adapted to absorb sugar. Plants make all the sugars they 
require via photosynthesis.
 
Plant water relations are discussed in college introductory botany texts, plant 
physiology texts or soil science texts.