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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 Entomology × Author: Amritha Kumari, S × Author: KAU × End date: 2019 × Start date: 2011 ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Potency of bioinsecticides against the cowpea bruchid, Callosobruchus maculatus (F.) (Coleoptera:Cysomelidae) in storage
    (Department of Agricultural Entomology, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 2011) Amritha Kumari, S; KAU; Sosamma, Jacob
    The present study entitled ‘Potency of bioinsecticides against cowpea bruchid, Callosobruchus maculatus (F.) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) in storage’ was undertaken to understand the feasibility of utilizing few biologically based grain protectants in post harvest storage of cowpea by investigating their biological efficacy and persistent/ residual toxicity. The bioinsecticides under study were two entomopathogenic fungi Beauveria bassiana and Metarhizium anisopliae; spinosad, an actinomycete based broad spectrum insecticide with low mammalian toxicity and lemongrass oil- an essential oil from the aromatic plant, Cymbopogon flexuosus. Laboratory bioassays were carried out to investigate the dosage-mortality response of the bioinsecticides against C. maculatus. Toxicity of entomopathogens was studied by two bioassay techniques-direct dipping and residue film. B. bassiana and M. anisopliae were tested at five different concentrations 1 x 104, 1 x 105, 1 x 106, 1 x 107 and 1 x 108 spores/ml. Observations on mortality were taken at 24 hours interval upto five days. Results on the mortality of C. maculatus indicated an increase in mortality with increase in dosage and period of exposure. Cumulative mortality data of C. maculatus by B. bassiana and M. anisopliae at five days after treatment with five concentrations revealed no significant difference in mortality between the two entomopathogens and the two bioassay methods. Probit analysis of dosage-mortality response of B. bassiana and M. anisopliae indicated lower LC50 value for M. anisopliae than B. bassiana (5.12 x 106 and 6.7 x 106 spores/ml) than B. bassiana (5.38 x 106 and 7.49 x 106 spores/ml). However the difference was not remarkable. Time-mortality effect of B. bassiana and M. anisopliae indicated an increase in LT50 values as the spore concentration decreased. Toxicity of spinosad to C. maculatus was also investigated by direct dipping and residue film bioassay methods. LC50 of spinosad was 4.02 ppm by direct dipping where as a higher LC50 value (36.39 ppm) was observed by residue film bioassay. Spinosad brought about 50 per cent mortality in 20.51 to 33.09 hours and 90 per cent mortality in 2.6 to 3.3 days. Lemongrass oil, at eight concentrations (1 to 8 μl/l of air), was tested to study the fumigant toxicity action against C. maculatus and the mortality ranged from 16.67 to 96.67 per cent. Lemongrass oil caused 50 per cent mortality at 3.93 ppm in one day and 90 per cent mortality at 7.51 ppm in 2.6 days. Bio-efficacy of the four bioinsecticides along with coconut oil as a recommended check was assessed for a period of 30 days in the storage by studying their effects on adult mortality, fecundity, egg hatchability, progeny emergence, developmental period, extent of infestation, grain weight loss and seed viability. Regarding adult toxicity, lemongrass oil caused highest adult mortality (87.1 to 100%) followed by spinosad (75.87 to 100%) at three days after treatment. Spinosad was most effective as an inhibitor of oviposition and egg hatchability. On comparing the progeny emergence in different treatments, no progenies were produced in the cowpea grains treated with coconut oil. Spinosad and lemongrass oil also showed higher inhibition of progeny emergence. Data on the effect of bioagents on the extent of infestation by C. maculatus revealed that coconut oil was the most effective treatment as it caused zero infestation. Spinosad and lemongrass oil were the next effective ones as they resulted in 49 and 52 per cent reduction of seed damage. Entomopathogens were found to be ineffective in reducing bruchus damage to seeds. Effects on weight loss also recorded the same trend. Results on the impact of bioagents on seed viability indicated that spinosad treated grains showed the highest germination followed by lemongrass oil and coconut oil. Results of the persistent toxicity action of the tested bioinsecticides revealed that spinosad had highest persistence with a PT value of 5699.7. All other bioagents showed less persistence. Lemongrass oil showed the least persistent toxicity against in storage. It can be concluded from the present investigation that among the four bioagents, spinosad is the most effective one in terms of bioefficacy as well as persistent action in cowpea seeds. It can be recommended as an alternative option for bruchid management in storage. The existing recommendation of coconut oil is also proved to be effective against C. maculatus in storage of cowpea seeds. Lemongrass oil is also a very effective bioagent as a fumigant for protecting cowpea grains from C. maculatus with a limitation of short persistence that warrants frequent applications in storage. B. bassiana and M. anisopliae are not effective against C. maculatus in cowpea storage.