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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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Subject: Agricultural Engineering × End date: 2009 × Start date: 2000 × Type: Thesis × Thesis Type: M.Sc ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Bionomics And Host Range Of American Serpentine Leaf Miner liriomyza trifolii (burgess) (agromyzidae :diptera)
    (Department of Agricultural Entomology, College of Horticulture,Vellanikkara, 2003) Smitha, M K; KAU; Maicykutty Mathew, P
    The present investigation on the "Bionomics and host range of American serpentine leaf miner, Liriomyza trifolii (Bugcss) (Agrornyzidae: Diptera)" was undertaken in the Department or Entomology, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara during 2001-2002. Field surveys and laboratory studies were carried out with the objective of studying the biology, host range, natural enemies and seasonal incidence of L. trifolii. The biology of L. trifolii was studied by releasing a pair of one day old adult l1ies 10 the rearing cages where cow pea seedlings were kept as host plants and honey as a food source. The female Ily inserted its eggs in the tubular punctures made on the leaves with its pointed ovipositor. The oval, translucent, milky white eggs hatched in about 2.08 days. The larvae mined the upper leaf surface and produced characteristic serpentine mines. There were four larval instars having a total duration of 3.4days. Alter the larvae attained full size or 2.35 mm length and (),(i4 mill width it made a semicircular cut at the broad end of the leaf mine. Through this cut larva came out of the mine and fall down to the soil for pupation. Inside the soil the larva turned to golden yellow coloured pupa. Female pupa was larger compared to male pupa. Adult emergence took place after 7.9 days. The adults had a longevity varying form 4.5days for mall's and 7.4 days for females where as they were feed with 2 per cent honey solution. Adult females were larger than the males and had black pointed spot on the lower sick of last abdominal segment. The fecundity of female varied from 14.6 eggs per day per female. The adult female laid about 48-5'0 eggs in its life time. The ratio or oviposition or feeding puncture was I: R.QC) to 1: 9.3. The total life cycle from eggs to adult took 13.3 days. The host range was studied by conducting surveys at regular intervals. 48 host plants belonging to 13 plant families were reported as host plants of this pest. It is a highly polyphagous insect and majority or the host plants belonged to families of Cornpositac and Cucubitaccae. The intensity of infestation of 1.. trifolli on various crops were calculated by counting the number of larval mines per leaf on the upper, middle and lower leaves of the plants. The attack of L. trifolt! was more on the lower leaves compared to middle and top leaves. Cowpea was found to be the most preferred host plant of L. trifolii followed by ash gourd, ridge gourd, tomato, pumpkin and cucumber. Among the ornamentals dahlia and marigold were severely damaged by this leaf miner. The intensity of infestation per unit area was maximum on tomato (l.74 mines per cm2) followed by cowpea (1.14 mines per cnr'). The number of mines per unit area was lowest for pumpkin (0.33 mines per ern"). In the studies on the seasonal incidence of L. trifolii two peak periods of infestation was observed, one during November and the second during January. The leaf miner population was observed to be highest from second fortnight of November to second fortnight of April. A significant positive correlation of larval population with wind velocity, sunshine hours and evaporation rate was observed. Relative humidity and total rainfall had negative correlation with infestation of L. trifolii. Parasitisation of L. trifolii by larval and pupal parasitoids were observed and the percentage of parasitoids were observed and the percentage of parasitism was maximum during December, J,U1uaIY and February months coinciding with the peak infestation periods. These natural enemies can be effectively utilized for the management of L. trifolii.