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  • ThesisItemOpen Access
    Persistence and metabolism of phorate in rice plants and in different soil types of Kerala and its effect on non target organisms
    (Division of Agricultural Entomology, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 1987) Naseema Beevi, S; KAU; Visalakshi, A
    The uptake, persistence and metabolism of phorate in rice plants and in different types of soil, viz., alluvial, sandy and lateritic loam when applied at 3 doses and 3 growth stages of the crop were studied by conducting field experiments. In these studies, the insecticides was applied as granules at 3 doses of 1.0, 1.25 and 1.5 kg ai/ha at 20, 40 and 60 days after planting. The residues were estimated colorimetrically and by bioassay. The metabolites in plants and soil were separated by T.L.C and further estimated colorimetrically at intervals of 2,7 and 14 days after application. The ultimate residues of the insecticide in grain and straw also were determined.
  • ThesisItemOpen Access
    Embryo mortality in chicken
    (Department of Pathology, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 1987) Lalithakunjamma, C R; KAU; Krishnan Nair, M
    The nature of embryomortality in hatcheries and the posiible causes for embrypathies were studied. Experimental studies were conducted by inoculating Oxytetracycline, Ochratoxin A, Citrinin and a combination of ochratoxin A and Citrinin and avian influenza virus. Ultrastructural studies were conducted to elucidate the subcellular changes in the liver and kidneys of the embryo after administration of the mycotoxins. The various abnormalities noticed were early embryonic death, curled embryos, dead in shell, live sticky embryos, oedema of head and neck emphalitis and septicaemia, gastroachisis with herination of yolk sac, coelosoma, dwarfs, curled toe, microphthalmia, anopthalmia, brachycephaly, parrot beak, crossed beak, brachygnatha, streptosomia and a few cases of diprosopus, polymelia
  • ThesisItemOpen Access
    Monographic studies on edible species of pleurotus and standardisation of the techniques for large scale cultivation
    (Department of Plant Pathology, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 1987) Suharban, M; KAU; Chandrasekharan Nair, M
    Mushrooms have long been recognized as a food because of their nutritive value and flavour and hence are grown on commercial scale on many parts of the world. In recent years cultivation of Pleurotus species are becoming popular in many of the tropical areas. No effort has been made in the past to collect, identify, describe and catalogue the Pleurotus mushroom flora of Kerala and standardise the techniques for their large scale cultivation. The present study was therefore initiated to achieve the above objectives. Collection, identification and description of the Pleurotus flora naturally occurred in and around the College of Agriculture and parts of Trivandrum district were carried out with the help of a data sheet. Twenty species of Pleurotus properly identified were further subjected to detailed study. A key was constituted to enable easy identification of gill the twenty described species. Out of the twenty species described, eight species are new records for India. Among the common cultivable species of Pleurotus. P .sajor-caju was found to be the most suitable mushrooms for the warm humid climatic condition of Kerala. The optimum temperature for maximum growth of this mushroom was found to be between 15 to 50 *C. Comparative efficacy of various containers and substrates used for spawn production revealed that Maize and empty wine bottle were the best substrate and container respectively for spawn production. Trials on cultivation of P. sajor-caiu on logs of common trees revealed Mango tree log to be the best in getting higher yield. Polythene bag was found to be the best container in supporting maximum sporocarp formation. Straw of local varieties of rice were better than high yielding varieties of rice in supporting sporocarp, formation. Comparative efficacy of straw made into bits and small twists with six species of Pleurotus revealed higher yield of 775 g per kg of substrate with spawn of Pleurotus- sajor-caju establishing its superiority for cultivation in Kerala. Cultivation of P .saior-caju in different seasons of the year revealed that this mushroom can be successfully cultivated in Kerala all through the year on paddy straw.
  • ThesisItemOpen Access
    Dietry protein and energy requirements of meat type Japanese quail for growth
    (Department of Poultry Science,College of Veterinary Science, Mannuthy, 1987) Narayanankutty, K; KAU; Ramakrishnan, A
    A three square factorial experiment designed to study the dietary requirments of protein and energy for meat type Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica) for growth, under the hot-humid conditions of Kerala is presented in this thesis. Quail chicks of seven day old age were obtained in three batches at three weeks interval between batches. Each batch consisted of 324 quail chicks and were obtained from the same source in order to keep the genetic make up constant. The birds were randomly allotted to nine dietary protein-energy combination groups. The dietary protein levels employed were 22, 24 and 26 per cent and that of energy level were 2700, 2900 and 3100 Kcal ME/kg diet. General observations were made for three, six week periods. The body weight at fifth and sixth week of age was not influenced by the dietary levels of protein or energy used in the study. Whereas body weight at the earlier ages were influenced (p<0.01) by the dietary treatments. Higher dietary protein levels of 24 and 26 per cent resulted in significantly heavier (p<0.01) body weight. The body weight was found to be decreased with increase in energy levels in the diet. The body weight gains were no influenced by the dietary treatments except at the second week of age. The overall weight gain from 1 to 5 and 1 to 6 weeks of age revealed that both protein and energy influenced the character significantly (p<0.01). The feed consumption data reiterated the already established fact that feed intake is regulated more by the energy level rather than protein levels in the diet. The overall consumption from 1 to 5 and 1 to 6 weeks of age revealed that the protein levels did not influence the feed consumption whereas energy levels influenced. The feed efficiency in earlier ages was significantly (p<0.01) better with higher protein diet, but from fourth week of age it was inconsistent. However, the overall feed efficiency from 1 to 5 as well as 1 to 6 weeks of age indicated statistically superior ( The processing data both at fifth and sixth week of age were not influenced by the levels of the protein, energy or both employed in the study. The ready to cook yield and total offal at fifth week of age averaged 75.47 and 24.53 per cent respectively and those at sixth week of age were 77.78 and 22.22 per cent respectively. The breast constituted the highest followed by back, thigh, drumstick, wing and neck among the cut-up-parts at both ages. The meat-borne ratio at fifth and sixth week of age averaged 1.90 with range of 1.81 to 2.05 and 1.98 with a range of 1.93 to 2.05 respectively. The liver protein progressively increased with increase in protein content and liver lipid increased with increase in energy levels in the diet during both five and six weeks of age. Similar trend was observed in the case of serum protein and lipid at both these ages. The haemoglobin levels were not influenced by the treatments. Even though the values obtained on carcass analysis were well with in the normal biological limits, the ether extractive per cent at fifth and sixth week of ages were influenced (p<0.01) by the dietary treatments. All the birds showed a positive nitrogen balance irrespective of the protein or energy levels in the diet. Extremely poor deposition of abdominal fat in quails slaughtered at both these ages was observed. Even though the results of weekly body weight and weight gain tend to suggest a two stage requirement namely one from one week to three week of age and the other from four week of age down, the absence of any significant influence by either protein or energy levels in the diet on body weight at fifth and sixth week of age does not provide sufficient rationale for such suggestion. But the overall feed efficiency from initial to either fifth or sixth week did show significant influence of dietary protein levels, higher level of 26 per cent being superior over other levels. Thus it appears to set the energy and protein requirement at 2700 Kcal ME/kg diet and 26 per cent respectively. The better feed efficiency at fifth week of age when compared to sixth week of age and also the absence of any statistically significant difference in slaughter characteristics between fifth and sixth week of age tend to suggest fifth week of age as ideal age of slaughter.
  • ThesisItemOpen Access
    Integrated control of sweet potato weevil Cylas formicarius Fabricius
    (Department of Entomology, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 1987) Palani, Swami M S; KAU; Mohandas, N
  • ThesisItemOpen Access
    Genome analysis in the genus Amatanthus
    (Department of Olericulture, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 1987) Mallika, V K; KAU; Peter, K V
    Cytogenetical studies on eight Amananthiu species, viz., A. inicot-Qn./ A. JUvvduA/ A. vajujcLaa, A, ApAnoAUA, A, cLliAallA, A,hypochondmacuA, A. cnuentuA and/4, caudaiiu and their hydrids were undertaken to understand their genome relationship, phylogeny and evolution. The development and arrangement of flower cluster In AmcuiardhuA were analysed microscopically and discussed in detail. A simple provisional key was developed for Identification of the eight species as the existing keys were complex and confusing. The eight species were also evaluated for their photoperiodlc requirements and antinutritional factors. Meiotic studies revealed that members of section Blitopsis had x = 17 while section Amaranthus had x = 16 and 17. A.duLuu a polyploid with n = 32 behaved as an allopolyploid. Mean number of chiasmata/bivalent was maximum in the cultivated species and minimum in the semiwild species, A ,apaiioaua which also had maximum number of rod bivalents. Pollen grains of varying sizes (Macro and medium) were observed In all the species. The cultivated species were characterised by bigger chromosomes and pollen grains. Interspecific hybridization was attempted in all possible combinations but many of the crosses failed. A few failed crosses exhibited seedling mortality. Seven interspecific hybrids grew and flowered and these included hybrids within and between sections Blitopsis and Amaranthus. A .IavaduA x. A, ioAcolon. the only interspecific hybrid within Blitopsis resembled mostly the male parent but was highly sterile. Cytologlcal studies revealed the presence of two or more Interchanges involving 3-6 chromosomes and subsequent melotic abnormalities resulted in 90% pollen sterility. The interspecific hybrids within section Amaranthus included A.^p-moAiUyA^nHinA A , ApmoALLb x A.hypochoncbuxLCLU,, A ,4 p m o 4 iu x A , c a u d a iiu t A, A p in o itu x A, c A u & n iiu , and A, c A ii& n tiu x A. c a u d a iiu . The hybrid A .c /u ie n iiu x A,caudaiiu produced only female flowers in the stunted and deformed hybrid plant. Other hybrids exhibited a preponderance of AupinoAtu characters indicated by presence of spines, reduction in inflorescence size, distinct placement of male and female flowers etc. Cytological studies revealed the presence of 1-2 multivalents including 3-4 chromosomes, moderate frequency of bivalents, and a low frequency of univalents in the hybrids. Chromosomal repatterning through translocations and inversions are also involved in speciation within both sections Blitopsis and Amaranthus. A, 6p u \.0Auu x A, v ia m L u , the first success of hybridization between the two sections resulted in a short and sturdy hybrid plant with dominating A.qunoMu characters. Cytological studies revealed that PMCs had high frequency of bivalents and only low frequency of univalents. The complete absence of multivalents indicated that cryptic structural changes and genetic drift are only involved In the cytogenetic differentiation of 2 the two species. D analysis of data of chromosome associations In interspecific hybrids at metaphase I indicate the clustering of hybrids within and between sections under the same group. This as well as morphological studies questions the validity of the naturalness of the two sections in AmaAO/iiJvu, The 40 accessions available in the germplasm were classified into different species based on detailed cytomorphological studies. Twenty one species were ascribed to A, four to A. d u J L u u and 15 to A. h y p o c h o n d b u j a c iiA , The reasons for low seed recovery in the A ,b u £ .o £ o A . accession A- were also studied. Investigations on photoperiodic response of the different species indicated that there is precocious flowering with increase in photoperiod in A. h y p o c h o r u d j u x L c i u , A, riidLuu and A, A p A n o A t u , Flowering was delayed with more light in A, cniirlatiu, and A, iju.c.o&QJi while A, cAuentu& and A, v u u x L l a were photoinsensitive. The content of antinutrient factors in the tender leaf and stem varied from 3.60 to 5.10% for oxalate and 0.295 to 0.695% for nitrate in the different species. In general Blitopsis had higher content of antinutrients than section Amaranthus, the only exception being A, A p .in .o A u A of section Amaranthus. The primitiveness of A ,apjjioaua was evident from the present studies. This pantropical cosmopolitan weed has played a major role in the evolution of otherAmoAaniAuAspp. Evidences were also obtained on the origin of vegetable amaranths from grain amaranths.