Root systems play an essential role in ensuring plant productivity. Experiments conducted in controlled environments and simulation models suggest that root geometry and responses of root architecture to environmental factors should be studied as a priority. However, compared with aboveground plant organs, roots are not easily accessible by non-invasive analyses and field research is still based almost completely on manual, destructive methods. Contributing to reducing the gap between laboratory and field experiments, we present a novel phenotyping system (GROWSCREEN-Rhizo), which is capable of automatically imaging roots and shoots of plants grown in soil-filled rhizotrons (up to a volume of ~18 L) with a throughput of 60 rhizotrons per hour. Analysis of plants grown in this setup is restricted to a certain plant size (up to a shoot height of 80 cm and root-system depth of 90 cm). We performed validation experiments using six different species and for barley and maize, we studied the effect of moderate soil compaction, which is a relevant factor in the field. First, we found that the portion of root systems that is visible through the rhizotrons’ transparent plate is representative of the total root system. The percentage of visible roots decreases with increasing average root diameter of the plant species studied and depends, to some extent, on environmental conditions. Second, we could measure relatively minor changes in root-system architecture induced by a moderate increase in soil compaction. Taken together, these findings demonstrate the good potential of this methodology to characterise root geometry and temporal growth responses with relatively high spatial accuracy and resolution for both monocotyledonous and dicotyledonous species. Our prototype will allow the design of high-throughput screening methodologies simulating environmental scenarios that are relevant in the field and will support breeding efforts towards improved resource use efficiency and stability of crop yields.

Chapter 1 12 soil erosion. J. curcas L.is also known as the source of biodiesel, because from the seed, oil can be isolated by direct compression. This oil is used as a biofuel, candle and soap production, lighting and lubricant. In Europe the deoiled seedcake is believed to be suitable as animal feedstock and biofertilizer. In some rural areas in Indonesia the latex was traditionally used for treating toothache. Since J. curcas L. is considered as a future source of biodiesel, many people in Indonesia plant it in a huge plantation. they think if they can produce high amounts of oil from J. curcas L., it will replace the petroleum usage. Although, J. curcas L.is known to have many other usages, but the farmer did not realize they thought this plant only produced oil without any beneficial usage. So, they will be loss. This situation leads to a new concept that J. curcas L. should not only be used as biodiesel source, but it should give additional values to a farmer who plants this crop. 1 Ricinus communis seed 45-50 Non edible 2 Jatrophacurcas kernel 40-60 Non edible 3 Arachis hypogea kernel 35-55 Edible 4 Ceiba pentandra kernel 24-40 Non edible 5 Hevea brasilensis kernel 40-50 Non edible 6 Cocos nucifera kernel 60-70 Edible 7 Moringa oleifera seed 30-49 Edible 8 Aleurites moluccana kernel 57-69 Non edible 9 Sleichera trijuga kernel 55-70 Non edible Azadirachta indica kernel 40-50 Non edible Adenanthera pavonina Kernel 14-28 Edible Elais guineensis Pulp + Kernel 46-54 Edible Theobroma cacao Seed 54-58 Edible Sterculia foetida kernel 45-55 Non edible Callophyllum inophyllum kernel 40-73 Non edible Shorea stenoptera kernel 45-70 Edible Sesamum orientale seed 45-55 Edible Croton tiglium kernel 50-60 Non edible Annona muricata kernel 20-30 Non edible Annona squamosal seed 15-20 Non edible Cinnamomum burmanni seed 30 Edible Oryza sativa Bran 20 Edible Zea mays Germ 33 Edible Chapter 1 14 The aim of this thesis is to give an overview of the additional values of Jatropha curcas L. plant by characterization of its natural products that can be used as a safe pharmaceutical product. In addition the detoxicification of the plantcake allowing it to be used for animal stock has been researched. This thesis is a part of larger project for valorization Jatropha curcas L. plantation, especially in Indonesia. Recent developments in the technology of detoxification process and application of this ethnomedicinal plant to new fields of experimental medicine are reviewed in chapter 2. In this chapter recent data on biological activities, concepts and strategies for turning a toxic plant into a valuable crop with high pharmaceutical value are also discussed. A group of toxic compounds, which are relevant to study in J. curcas, are phorbol esters (PEs) since they are known as tumour promoter. In analysing those phorbol esters, phorbolmyristic acetate is used as a standard. This compound has two isomers which are α and β. In chapter 3 the differences between both isomers are discussed using LC-UV and LC-MS. Selecting wrong standard can ...