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Kerala Agricultural University, Thrissur

The history of agricultural education in Kerala can be traced back to the year 1896 when a scheme was evolved in the erstwhile Travancore State to train a few young men in scientific agriculture at the Demonstration Farm, Karamana, Thiruvananthapuram, presently, the Cropping Systems Research Centre under Kerala Agricultural University. Agriculture was introduced as an optional subject in the middle school classes in the State in 1922 when an Agricultural Middle School was started at Aluva, Ernakulam District. The popularity and usefulness of this school led to the starting of similar institutions at Kottarakkara and Konni in 1928 and 1931 respectively. Agriculture was later introduced as an optional subject for Intermediate Course in 1953. In 1955, the erstwhile Government of Travancore-Cochin started the Agricultural College and Research Institute at Vellayani, Thiruvananthapuram and the College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences at Mannuthy, Thrissur for imparting higher education in agricultural and veterinary sciences, respectively. These institutions were brought under the direct administrative control of the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Animal Husbandry, respectively. With the formation of Kerala State in 1956, these two colleges were affiliated to the University of Kerala. The post-graduate programmes leading to M.Sc. (Ag), M.V.Sc. and Ph.D. degrees were started in 1961, 1962 and 1965 respectively. On the recommendation of the Second National Education Commission (1964-66) headed by Dr. D.S. Kothari, the then Chairman of the University Grants Commission, one Agricultural University in each State was established. The State Agricultural Universities (SAUs) were established in India as an integral part of the National Agricultural Research System to give the much needed impetus to Agriculture Education and Research in the Country. As a result the Kerala Agricultural University (KAU) was established on 24th February 1971 by virtue of the Act 33 of 1971 and started functioning on 1st February 1972. The Kerala Agricultural University is the 15th in the series of the SAUs. In accordance with the provisions of KAU Act of 1971, the Agricultural College and Research Institute at Vellayani, and the College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, were brought under the Kerala Agricultural University. In addition, twenty one agricultural and animal husbandry research stations were also transferred to the KAU for taking up research and extension programmes on various crops, animals, birds, etc. During 2011, Kerala Agricultural University was trifurcated into Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (KVASU), Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies (KUFOS) and Kerala Agricultural University (KAU). Now the University has seven colleges (four Agriculture, one Agricultural Engineering, one Forestry, one Co-operation Banking & Management), six RARSs, seven KVKs, 15 Research Stations and 16 Research and Extension Units under the faculties of Agriculture, Agricultural Engineering and Forestry. In addition, one Academy on Climate Change Adaptation and one Institute of Agricultural Technology offering M.Sc. (Integrated) Climate Change Adaptation and Diploma in Agricultural Sciences respectively are also functioning in Kerala Agricultural University.

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20111
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Subject: Agricultural Biochemistry × Author: Divya, Lekshmanan × Author: KAU × Start date: 1990 × Type: Thesis ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Morpho-molecular characterization of cluster bean(cyamopsis tetragonoloba(L.) taub.)
    (College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 2011) Divya, Lekshmanan; KAU; Abdul, Vahab M
    The present study entitled “ Morpho- molecular characterization of cluster bean [Cyamopsis tetragonoloba (L.) Taub.] was conducted at the Departments of Olericulture and Plant Biotechnology, College of Agriculture, Vellayani during 2010-2011. The objectives were to assess the genetic diversity of the cluster bean germplasm both at morphological and molecular level. One hundred genotypes of cluster bean were evaluated for yield and yield related characters in randomised block design with two replications. Analysis of variance revealed significant differences for fourteen out of sixteen characters studied. The significant characters include plant height, primary branches, internodal length, pod clusters per plant, pods per plant, pods per cluster, yield per plant, pod weight, pod length, pod girth, seeds per pod, 100 seed weight, protein content and shelf life High vales of PCV and GCV were recorded for primary branches followed by pod weight, yield per plant, pods per cluster and pod clusters per plant. High heritability coupled with high genetic gain was observed for primary branches, clusters per plant, pods per cluster, yield, pod weight, pod length and pod girth. Vegetable pod yield showed high positive genotypic correlation with the characters pod weight, pod length, pod girth, pods per plant, plant height, pod clusters per plant and 100 seed weight. Plant height, pods per plant and pod length showed positive direct effect on yield. In genetic divergence analysis 100 accessions were grouped into five clusters. Maximum number of genotypes were in cluster I and most of the genotypes in this cluster were low yielders. The highest yielders stood in the fifth cluster. On the basis of selection index CT 72 (a local collection from Tamil Nadu) recorded highest index value followed by Pusa Naubahar and CT 81 (a local collection from Tamil Nadu). These were identified as genetically superior. In molecular characterization, 12 accessions were selected from different clusters formed by morphological analysis. Out of thirty primers screened, eleven primers viz., OPA-14, E-14, E-15, E-1, E-3, OPA-9, E-4, OPB-8, OPP-16, E-12, E-6 were selected for DNA amplification. They generated 62 scorable bands out of which 41 were polymorphic and 21 monomorphic showing 66.12 per cent polymorphism. Resulted amplified products ranged in the size of 100- 1200 bp. The similarity coefficient values ranged from 0.375 to 0.894. At 0.73 per cent similarity level, 12 accessions were divided into 5 clusters. CT 22 constituted first cluster, CT 41 and CT 60 in second, CT 12 and CT 17 in third, CT 8 and CT 27 were included in fourth and CT 3, CT 79, CT 38 and CT 81 and CT 72 in fifth. CT 79 and CT 38 showed maximum relatedness with each other. The accessions CT 17 and CT 12 and CT 38, CT 81 and CT 72 were closely placed in dendrograms generated by both morphological and molecular analysis. Clustering of other accessions used in the molecular study was not in full agreement with the morphological clustering pattern. This may be due to the influence of environment in modifying the expression of characters. The present study using morphological characters and RAPD markers have shown considerable variability in cluster bean genotypes. Two local accessions viz., CT 72 (non branching type) and CT 81 (branching type) were identified as superior for yield and quality. These genotypes may be progressed to further confirmatory studies, CYT and multilocational trials. The study also revealed the reliability of molecular techniques compared to morphological methods in the characterization of cluster bean. Further studies on morphological and agronomic traits and analysis of accessions with more number of primers and reliable DNA markers may be helpful in getting accurate result.