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Open Access
Interaction effect under ammi model
(Department of Agricultural Statistics, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 2006) Eldho, Varghese; KAU; Krishnan, S
The study of interaction is one of the major objectives of most of agricultural experiments. Conceptually this is done based on regression technique. Among the interactions studied, two factor interaction derives its importance as it is the simplest of the interactions. The joint regression technique is employed to study the G x E interaction. The regression techniques are having the assumption of additivity of effects. When there is departure from these assumption the joint regression technique fails. Additive Main effects and Multiplicative Interaction studies have helped a lot at this juncture. Raju (2002) derived a more comprehensive measure of interaction based on AMMI model. This was achieved using the spectral decomposition of the relevant interaction matrix which enabled the study of interaction with the same precision as that of studying the main effects. Biplots formulations of interaction effects based on the PCA vector scores are the most simplest and explicit representation of interaction. The study of interaction based on spectral decomposition has been illustrated using the secondary data on the biometric, chemical and qualitative characters from the projects “Development of a bimodal phasic management system to improve both quantity and quality in Kacholam (Kaempferia galanga)” and “Development of a bimodal phasic management system to improve both quantity and quality in Njavara (Oriza Sativa)”. The DMRT tests for each level of the factors viz., calcium and source were carried out for the parameters viz., percentage content of phosphorus in rhizome, percentage content of potassium in rhizome and North – South foliage spread. In all these characters no specific interaction effect could be sorted out. These interactions when studied based on the factor analytical technique revealed that source II and second level of calcium had the highest positive interaction as regards the percentage content of phosphorus; source III and third level of calcium for percentage content of potassium and source II and third level of calcium for North – South foliage spread. When the order of the interaction matrix was high as in the case of the second experiment, DMRT tests failed to highlight the appropriate interactive effect in the characters viz., grain yield, percentage content of nitrogen in grain, percentage content of phosphorus in grain, percentage content of phosphorus in straw and percentage content of potassium in straw. The study based on the factor analytical technique revealed that the treatments T15, T8, T3, T1 and T4 respectively had the highest interactive effect with Payyanur for the above said characters where as for Badagara they were T3, T14, T4, T5 and T8 .
Open Access
Response behaviour towards branded agro-processed products
(Department of Co- operative Management, College of Co- operation, Banking and Management, Vellanikkara, 2006) Prameela, V; KAU; Sakeer Husain, A
The study entitled “Response behaviour towards branded agro-processed products’ was undertaken with the following objectives: 1. To examine the response behaviour towards selected branded agro-processed products (BAPs) 2. To identify the factors influencing purchase decision and consumer choice 3. To compare the response behaviour towards BAPs of co-operative and private sectors The study was conducted in six wards of Kannur Municipality. From each of the selected wards, twenty five household consumers of the five selected BAPs viz., sambar powder, meat masala, rasam powder, pickle and jam were selected. Thus a total of 150 household consumers constituted the sample of the study. The study was based on primary data collected with the help of structured pre-tested interview schedule. Percentage, index, Kendall’s coefficient of concordance and Friedman test were the major statistical tools used for analysis. The study revealed that cent percent of the respondents consumed sambar powder and pickle while majority of them consumed meat masala (96.67%), jam (90.67%) and rasam powder (86.67%). Among the respondents, majority purchased packed branded items. ‘Easy availability’ and ‘convenience’ were the major reasons for the use of the selected BAPs. ‘Dinesh’ was the most known brand among the respondents in the case of all selected BAPs. Advertisement in the electronic media was the major source of awareness about the selected BAPs. ‘Super market’ was preferred by the respondents as the major source of purchase. ‘Dinesh’ was the major brand preferred and used by the respondents in the case of curry powder and pickle, while ‘Happy’ was the most preferred and used brand in the case of jam. ‘Brand loyalty’ was found to be very high among the users of the selected BAPs. ‘Belief in the quality of the products’ supplied by the store was the main reason found for the store loyalty of the consumers. ‘Product features’ and ‘advertisement’ were the important factors that influenced the purchased decision of all the BAPs. ‘Taste’ and ‘freshness’ were the important product features that influenced consumer choice. No significant difference was found between the co-operative and private brands of selected BAPs with regard to factors and product features influencing purchase decision and consumer choice. Any way the consumers were more satisfied with ‘availability’ and ‘quality’ of the products of co-operative and ‘availability’ and ‘taste’ of the products of private organizations. In general consumers were satisfied with the products supplied by both co-operative and private organizations. However, the selected BAPs of co-operative organizations were found to be comparatively better when compared with private products except in the case of jam.
Open Access
Divergence studies in salad cucumber (cucumis sativus L)
(Department of Olericulture, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 2006) Smitha Sara, Abraham; KAU; Gopalakrishnan, T R
The present investigation on “ Divergence studies in salad cucumber (Cucumis sativus L)” was conducted at College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, Thrissur during December 2005- April 2006. Twenty-eight salad cucumber genotypes collected from different parts of India were utilized for the study. The extent of variability, correlation between yield and its component characters, path analysis and divergence among 28 genotypes were assessed. The 28 genotypes were significantly different for 15 characters studied. The genotype Phule Himangi (20.22 kg/plot) emerged as high yielder followed by AAUC 2 (15.11 kg/plot). Selection of plants based on yield/plot was observed to be efficient than selection of component characters. All the accessions were prickled on the surface. All were monoecious and produced yellow flowers. Most of the genotypes produced light green fruits whereas Phule Himangi produced white stout fruits. Genotypes CS 25 and CS 35 were comparatively free from biotic factors except mosaic and serpentine leaf miner. Total yield per plot showed positive correlation with fruits per plant, duration of crop and number of harvests. Negative correlation was observed between total yield per plot and number of branches. It is clear from the study that, for obtaining higher yield characters like fruits per plant, duration of crop, number of harvests etc should be considered in the selection programme. Fruits per plant had maximum positive direct effect on total yield per plot. Higher positive effects for days to first male flower anthesis was observed on total yield per plot. The genotypes were grouped into 5 clusters based on Mahalanobis D2 statistics. Cluster I, II, III, IV and V contained 13,8,4,2,1 genotypes respectively. Inter-cluster distance was maximum between cluster II and V (48733.77) and minimum between cluster I and III (8415.55). Cluster V showed maximum average inter-cluster distance with any another cluster.
Open Access
Influence of host plants and soil moisture stress on the water relations in sandal
(Department of Tree Physiology and Breeding, College of Forestry,Vell, 2006) Dhaniklal, G; KAU; Asokan, P K
The influence of host plants and soil moisture stress on water relations in sandal was investigated in a pot culture experiment at College of Forestry, Kerala Agricultural University, Vellanikkara. Five host plants, Divi divi (Caesalpinia coriaria Jacq.), Casurina (Casuarina equisetifolia J.R & H.G. Forst), Pongamia (Pongamia pinnata (L.) Pierre), Lantana (Lantana camara L.) and Erythrina (Erythrina indica Lamk.) were selected for this study. The results showed that Sandal seedlings with and without host showed similar height increment, except when erythrina was the host. The host plant had no influence on most of the growth parameters of sandal seedlings. The collar diameter of sandal seedlings with and without host was on par during the early seedling stage and by the end of the experimental period it showed a significant difference. There was no significant difference in the number of leaves, leaf area and root length of sandal with different hosts. Haustorial connections were not recorded even after the experimental period. Sandal seedlings with Erythrina indica as host decreased the pre dawn water potential. Water stress decreased the seedling height, collar diameter, number of leaves, leaf area, shoot dry weight and total dry weight of sandal seedlings. Fully irrigating the pots once in three days resulted in better growth of sandal seedlings as compared to irrigation once in six days. Water stress increased the root length and root dry weight. Root length was found to be more for sandal seedlings which were irrigated once in six days compared to that, irrigated once in three days. Water stress decreased leaf area of sandal seedlings. Transpiration rate at 14:00 hrs was found to be more than that of transpiration at 8:00 hrs. Transpiration rate decreased with increase in soil moisture stress. Pre dawn water potential was lower for sandal seedlings irrigated once in six days compared to that irrigated once in three days. As the haustorial connections were not observed even after 270 days after planting it can be concluded that the difference in the seedling growth parameters of sandal with some of the hosts is due to the above and below ground competition for sun light, water and nutrients.
Open Access
Polymorphism of ovine fecundity gene linked microsatellite markers in malabari goats
(Department of Animal Breeding and Genetics, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 2006) Seena, T X; KAU; Raghavan, K C
The objective of the present study was to explore the polymorphism of ovine fecundity gene linked microsatellite markers in Malabari goats. Malabari goats are one of the most prolific breeds in India. The microsatellite markers OarAE101, BMS2508 and BM1329 linked to the Booroola gene (FecB) and the microsatellite markers TGLA54 and TGLA68 linked to Inverdale (FecX1) gene in sheep were selected for the study. The DNA samples from 120 Malabari goats which had given birth to singles, twins, triplets and quadruplets in the second and subsequent parities were utilized for the study. DNA was isolated by phenol chloroform extraction procedure with some modifications. The DNA samples were amplified by PCR using the radioactively labeled microsatellite primers. The amplified products were resolved by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis followed by autoradiography. The genotypes of animals were determined for each microsatellite loci by comparing the sizes of alleles with M13 phage DNA sequencing ladder. The microsatellite markers OarAE101, BMS2508 and TGLA54 were found to be monomorphic in the population under study. The microsatellite markers BM1329 and TGLA68 were found to be highly polymorphic in Malabari goats. A total of 15 alleles with 167-195 bp for the locus BM1329 and 8 alleles with a size range of 98-114 bp were observed for the locus TGLA68. The total number of genotypes observed was 34 for BM1329 locus and 12 for TGLA68 locus. Heterozygosity of 0.8660 for the locus BM1329 and 0.8024 for the locus TGLA68 were observed. The polymorphic information content (PIC) computed was 0.8526 and 0.7823 for the loci BM1329 and TGLA68 respectively. A significant difference in the alleles 181bp and 191 bp (P≤0.01) and the alleles 179 bp and 185 bp (P≤0.05) and the genotype 177/191 (P≤0.01) for the locus BM1329 were found in different types of births. The genotype 175/185 of the microsatellite marker BM1329 was found to be significantly related to a higher litter size when compared to the mean litter size of the population in Malabari goats (P≤0.01). The allele 104 bp of the locus TGLA68 was found to be significantly different in different types of births (P≤0.01). The highest frequency (0.4545) was observed in triplets followed by twins (0.2177) and singles (0.1847). The genotype 104/106 was found to be significantly different in different types of birth with triplets having a frequency of (0.4545), followed by singles (0.1087) and twins (0.0333). The season of birth had no significant effect on the type of birth and number of kidding in Malabari goats. Identification and selection of individuals that carry the alleles and genotypes associated with high prolificacy is possible in Malabari goats based on the above result. So new breeding strategies involving selection for high prolificacy can maximize the net profit of farmers. This study has brought to light important information improving the reproductive performance of Malabari goats by marker assisted selection.
Open Access
Tenderisation of buffalo meat by calcium chloride marination
(Department of Livestock Products Technology, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 2006) Kavitha, Rajagopal; KAU; George, T Oommen
The present study on the tenderisation of buffalo meat by calcium chloride marination was designed to assess the effect of marination on tenderness and other organoleptic qualities of meat and to compare the effects with those of natural ageing. Samples of longissimus dorsi muscle between 9th and 12th thoracic vertebrae from 14 healthy crossbred Murrah buffaloes of 4 – 8 years old were collected. They were assorted for three treatments, viz., samples neither aged nor calcium chloride marinated; and stored at room temperature for 6 h postmortem (NAM), samples aged only (A), samples which are marinated (AM). Samples of A and AM were stored at 2-4o C. The aerobically packaged samples for the treatment AM after 24 h of storage were marinated by injection with 200 mM calcium chloride solution (5% w/w) at multiple sites. The pH, WHC, cooking loss, color, MFI, WBSF and sensory quality attributes such as juiciness, ease of fragmentation, amount of connective tissue, overall tenderness, flavour intensity and colour of the steaks were assessed. The samples for the treatment NAM were subjected to the study at 1 h and 6 h and the steaks from A and AM at 1 h, 6 h and on days 1, 2, 4, 6 and 8. The pH of the steaks was not affected by CaCl2 marination. It followed the normal postmortem pattern, with a pH of 6.7 ± 0.01 at 1 h in all treatments. The ultimate pH of 5.6 reached on day 1 was significantly lower (P < 0.05) than on all days, which gradually increased until day 8 in treatments A and AM. The samples followed a normal rigor with sufficient amount of m-calpain and the increase in pH was due to the accumulation of products of proteolysis. The WHC at 1 h was 0.37 ± 0.021 which declined to a significantly lower (P < 0.05) value of 0.31± 0.021 at the ultimate pH on day 1. This remained almost static till day 8 in both treatments A and AM. On day 1 the pH and calcium induced shrinkage caused loss of water. Later changes in the cytoskeleton improved WHC by removing rigor induced shrinkage of myofibrils. WHC was not significantly affected by calcium chloride marination. The percentage of cooking loss increased significantly (P < 0.05) on da 1 and thereafter it remained static till day 8. Calcium chloride was not found to affect the percentage of cooking loss. The comparatively higher loss observed in the study could be attributed to the lack of external fat covering and marbling in the buffalo LD steaks. Ageing is found to improve the colour of fresh meat from day 1 onwards. But calcium chloride marination did not have any additional effect on the colour of aged meat. The decline in postmortem pH to 5.6 on day 1 contributed to higher L, a, b values which increased the light scattering properties. On subsequent days, L, a, b values remained without significant changes. This could be due to the antioxidant action of amino acids and dipeptides formed during postmortem proteolysis, which preserve the methmyoglobin reducing activity. In treatments A and AM the MFI followed a gradual significant decrease (P < 0.01) from 768.0 ± 40.52 to 541.78 ± 34.63 on day 1 and day 8, respectively in aged steaks. While in marinated it declined to 465.28 ± 29.79 on day 8. Significantly lower (P < 0.01) value of 630 ± 42.88 on day 2 in marinated samples was comparable to that in the aged samples on day 4, indicating the early achievement of tenderness in marinated samples. MFI varied little with ultimate pH. MFI is deemed as a very useful indicator of meat tenderness particularly when sample size is smaller for the determination of shear force or sensory evaluation. Significantly highest (P < 0.01) WBSF value of 11.37 ± 0.61 obtained on day 1 could be attributed to rigor induced shortening. The values declined significantly in treatments A and AM. The values obtained for the marinated steaks were significantly lower (P < 0.01) than the aged samples on all days postmortem. It reduced from 10.48 ± 0.48 at 1 h postmortem to 4.88 ± 0.45 in a course of 8 days. This indicated a 53.44% reduction in values from 1 h to day 8, while in aged sample only a 35.59% reduction was noticed in a course of 8 days. The sensory panel evaluation of organoleptic qualities showed that calcium chloride marinated steaks significantly improved (P < 0.01) in the scores for the different attributes studied on each day of ageing. No flavor problems or alterations in cooked color were noticed at 200mM CaCl2. Correlation studies in between MFI and WBSF revealed a significant positive correlation (P < 0.01) with r = 0.85 in A and 0.84 in AM on all days from 1 to 8. This indicates that MFI could be used as an indicator of tenderness of fresh meat rather than cooked. WBSF and MFI were strongly correlated with the overall tenderness measured by taste panel evaluation. The overall tenderness was more negatively correlated with SF (r = 0.70) rather than MFI (r = 0.65). The tenderness and other organoleptic qualities of buffalo longissimus steaks could be improved significantly by post-rigor marination with 200mM CaCl2 (5 % w/w) on day 1 and subsequent ageing at 2 – 4o C for 4 – 8 days. The tenderness improved by 53.44 per cent in marinated steaks as against 35.59 per cent in those aged without marination. The improvement in tenderness could be attributed to the activation of μ- and m-calpain by calcium ions and the autolysis of calpastain at 2 - 4o C of ageing.
Open Access
Effects of preslaughter stress and irradiation on physicochemical qualities of meat
(Department of Livestock Products Technology, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 2006) Vivek, A K; KAU; Kuttinarayanan, P (Guide)
The effect of stress on the blood parameters and physicochemical qualities of meat as well as effect of irradiation on the qualities of fresh meat from stressed cattle were investigated in the present study. A total of 27 culled adult cattle from different farms were grouped into three, having nine animals in each group. Group I animals were considered as control while group II animals were transported for 2 h and slaughtered immediately after transport. Group III animals were transported for 6 to 7 h and given rest for 18 h before slaughter. Blood samples were collected prior to transport in all the animals, immediately after transport in group II and III and after 18 hours rest, before slaughter, in group III animals. Meat samples were collected from all the animals in which half of the samples were subjected to irradiation at 2.0kGy with gamma irradiation, as Cobalt 60 as source. The samples were stored at 40C for further studies. Animals in all the groups were having homogenous blood values prior to transport in cortisol, CK, BUN, creatinine and PCV. After transport, group II had a significant increase in cortisol (P<0.01), CK (P<0.01) and BUN (P<0.05), while group III had a significant increase in cortisol (P<0.01), CK(P<0.01), BUN (P<0.05) and creatinine (P<0.05) except PCV, in which the increase in cortisol and CK were significantly (P<0.01) greater than that in group II. By giving rest, even though there was significant (P<0.01) reduction in cortisol and CK values, the after rest values of cortisol (P<0.01), CK (P<0.01) and BUN (P<0.05) were significantly higher than that of the before transport values. In the case of pH and WHC, the trend was almost similar, with a higher value at zero hour and the decline was drastic in zero to 6 h, followed by 6 to 12 and 12 to 24 h and the control and irradiated samples did not show any significant difference in the decline. Cooking loss of the control and irradiated samples did not have a significant difference at zero hour storage, while the 24h storage brought a significant (P<0.01) increase in cooking loss in all the samples and irradiated samples had a significantly (P<0.05) higher cooking loss at 24h. Shear force values were significantly (P<0.01) less for irradiated samples while storage significantly (P<0.01) increased the values of all the samples. The Hunterlab colour values, L, a, b, C and hue angle, were significantly (P<0.01) higher in irradiated samples at zero hour storage. At 24h storage, the values were significantly (P<0.01) higher than that at zero hour, and only the hue angle values were significantly (P<0.05) higher in irradiated samples. Even though there existed a slight difference between control and irradiated samples in various organoleptic qualities like colour, flavour, juiciness and tenderness, there was no significant difference in overall acceptability between control and irradiated samples. In the present study, the differential response due to irradiation for the stress given to the animals, found to be statistically non significant leading to the result that irradiation conditions did not have an impact on the meat obtained from stressed animal.
Open Access
Insect fauna on coconut (cocos nucifera L. ) spadix and effect of pesticides on major pollinators
(Department of Agricultural Entomology, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 2006) Shaiju, Simon; KAU; Devanesan, S
An investigation was carried out to document the different insect species visiting the coconut inflorescence, to find out the variations in the foraging activity of different insect species and to assess the relative safety/toxicity of some commonly used pesticides to honeybees. The study revealed that the coconut inflorescence attracted thirty different species of insects towards it. These insect species visited the inflorescence to feed on either pollen or nectar or both. Bees viz., Apis dorsata, A. mellifera, A. cerana indica, Trigona iridipennis, Braunsapis sp and Eupetersia sp were found to collect both pollen and nectar of which A. mellifera and A. cerana indica dominated. Bees were found to forage on the inflorescence throughout the day and exhibit a peak period of activity during 0900 h in case of A. mellifera and A. cerana indica and during 1200 h in case of T. iridipennis. All these species of bees exhibited two distinct peaks during the day of which the second peak was during 1500 h. They mainly collected pollen from half opened male flowers. Ant species that foraged on the coconut inflorescence in large numbers were Solenopsis geminata, Myrmicaria brunnea, Dolichoderus sp, Camponotus sericeus. They visited the inflorescence for feeding pollen and nectar. The population of ants remained more or less same throughout the day, they visited in higher numbers during 0900 h. They were present on the inflorescence throughout the day and maximum during 0900 h. Other insect species that visited the palm inflorescence were flies (Bactrocera cucurbitae, B. dorsalis, Musca domestica, Hemipyrellia sp., Graptomyza brevirostris and Sarcophaga sp.), wasps (Polistes hebraeus, Chalybion bengalense, Ropalidia variegata, Vespa cincta and Vespa sp.), beetles (Oxycetonia versicolor and Oxycetonia sp.) and moths (Euchromia polymena and Melanitis leda ismene). The maximum population of insects was observed on the 13th day of the male phase and in the female phase it was on the second day. The population fluctuations recorded over a period of one year showed that the occurrence of bees were the highest followed by the population of ants. Bees exhibited a significant positive correlation with maximum temperature and negative correlation with relative humidity and rainfall. The results on the evaluation of pesticides for their safety/toxicity to different species of honeybees indicated that all the chemical pesticides were toxic to honeybees. Carbaryl 0.1 per cent was the most toxic while endosulfan 0.05 per cent was the least toxic chemical. However, both azadirachtin 0.004 per cent and neem oil garlic emulsion 2.0 per cent were the safest treatments to honeybees under laboratory conditions.
Open Access
Nutrient source efficiency relations on the productivity of cowpea in summer rice fallows
(Department of Agronomy, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 2006) Lekha, B. Nair; KAU; Savithri, K V
A field experiment was conducted in the rice fallows of Agricultural Research Station, Mannuthy, during the summer season (February – April) of 2005, to study the effect of different sources of nitrogen and phosphorus on growth, yield and quality of cowpea and to asses the possibility of reducing the quantity of fertilizers through inoculation of phosphate solubilising bacteria and foliar application of diammonium phosphate. The experiment was laid out in randomized block design with seventeen treatments and three replications. The treatments included were, different sources of nitrogen and phosphorus along with or with out phosphate solubilising bacteria inoculation and foliar application two percent diammonium phosphate twice and package of practices recommendation alone. Most of the growth characters, dry matter production, yield and yield attributes and uptake of N, P, K, Ca, Mg, and S were higher in the treatments which received nitrogen in the form of urea and phosphorus in the form of rock phosphate. The influence of rock phosphate was more when it was applied along with phosphate solubilising bacteria inoculation. Foliar application of two percent diammonium phosphate at pre flowering and flowering stages increased the growth characters and drymatter production but showed a reduction in yield and yield attributes of cowpea. The protein content of grain and Bhusa was not significantly influenced by various sources of nitrogen and phosphorus, phosphate solubilising bacteria inoculation and foliar spray of two percent diammonium phosophate. None of the treatments could bring about much impact on soil nutrient status. However, complete basal application of nitrogen and phosphorus showed a slightly higher content of N, P, K, Ca, Mg and S over their 50 percent application. Moreover, application of nitrogen as ammonium sulphate resulted in a slightly higher content of sulphur in the soil compared to application of urea. Among the various treatments, considering the growth and yield of cowpea as well as economics, basal application of 50 percent nitrogen as urea and 50 percent phosphorus as rock phosphate along with phosphate solubilising bacteria inoculation and subsequent foliar spray of two percent diammonium phosphate at pre flowering and flowering stages was found to be the best.

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