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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 Entomology × Author: Anusree Padmanabhan, P S × Start date: 2017 × Thesis Type: M.Sc ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Population dynamics, biology and management of mealybug, phenacoccus solenopsis tinsley (Hemiptera: pseudococcidae) on okra
    (Department of Agricultural Entomology, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 2017) Anusree Padmanabhan, P S; KAU; Mani Chellappan
    Cotton mealybug, Phenacoccus solenopsis Tinsley (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) is a highly polyphagous pest that infest more than 154 species of plants mostly belonging to Asteraceae, Malvaceae, Solanaceae, Amaranthaceae, and Euphorbiaceae. It causes severe damage to crops grown under both protected as well as open field conditions. Use of broad spectrum synthetic insecticides to manage the mealybug is a restricted option owing to concerns about residue, interference with natural enemies etc. Hence, it is necessary to study the host range, biology and to develop alternative ecofriendly strategies for the management of the mealybug. The study entitled “Population dynamics, biology and management of mealybug P. solenopsis Tinsley (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) on okra” was undertaken at the AINPAO (All India Network Project on Agricultural Ornithology) laboratory, Dept. of Agrl. Entomology, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara during March 2016 – May 2017. The objectives of the study were to study the population dynamics, biology and management of P. solenopsis and characterization of its endosymbionts. To document the host range and natural enemies of P. solenopsis, purposive survey was conducted in Thrissur district. P. solenopsis was recorded on more than 40 plants, the majority of which belonged to the families viz., Asteraceae, Malvaceae, Solanaceae and Amaranthaceae. As the population of mealybug on okra fields was negligible during survey, study on population dynamics was carried out on major host plants recorded viz., Sida acuta Burm.f., Abutilon indicum (Link) Sweet, Hibiscus rosa-sinensis L.and Amaranthus viridis L. Population of mealybug was found to be high during summer (March 2016 to July 2016) and winter seasons (November 2016 to February 2017). Natural enemies recorded included a predator [Spalgis epius (Westwood)] and four parasitoids [Aenasius arizonensis (Girault), Anicetus sp., Myiocnema comperei Ashmead and Prochiloneurus spp.]. Molecular characterization of mealybug was done to confirm the species identity prior to studies on biology. Mass culturing of mealybug was done on potato sprouts. The mealybugs reproduced through ovo-viviparity and parthenogenesis. Life cycle of female mealybug consisted of three nymphal instars and an adult stage, whereas that of male mealybug consisted of an additional pupal stage along with three nymphal instars. The mean duration of first and second nymphal instars was 4.27 and 6.67 days. The average third nymphal instar duration was 4.8 days. Mean pupal period in male mealybug was 6.8 days. Adult female lived for an average of 38.75 days with pre-oviposition, oviposition and post-oviposition period of 5, 11.5 and 0.5 days respectively. Adult male lived for only an average of 1.7 days. Adult female deposited an average of 171 crawlers with a female to male sex ratio of 1: 0.03. Number of antennal segments varied among each instars. The first and second instar nymphs had six antennal segments, while the third instar nymphs and adult stage possessed seven and nine antennal segments, respectively. Study on damage assessment on okra by P. solenopsis showed that second and third instar nymphs produce profuse crinkling and yield loss in okra. Apot culture experiment was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of entomopathogenic fungi viz., Paecilomyces lilacinus (Thom) Samson and Lecanicillium lecanii (Zimm.) Zare& Gams each at three different concentrations of 1 × 107, 1 × 108 and 1 × 109 spores ml-1, along with two botanicals viz., NSKE @ 5% and neem oil soap @ 2 %, chemical insecticides viz., buprofezin 250 g a.i. ha-1 and thiamethoxam 25 g a.i. ha-1 with an untreated control. Thiamethoxam recorded the highest mortality of 75.94 per cent seven days after treatment followed by buprofezin and NSKE with mean mortality of 37.02 and 26.52 per cent, respectively. Entomopathogenic fungi, L. lecanii at 1×108spores ml-1(21.89%) was on par with P. lilacinus at 1 × 107 spore ml-1 (20.72%). The mortality of mealybug increased with time lapse after spray application. On the 14th day, highest mortality of 83.54 per cent was recorded in the treatment NSKE which was on par with thiamethoxam (81.74%). P. lilacinus at 1 × 109spores ml-1 and L. lecanii at 1 × 108 spores ml-1 were found to be the best treatments among entomopathogenic fungi. Analysis of gut microbiota showed the presence of endosymbiotic bacteria belonging 63 families which constituted 189 species. The major species identified were Candidatus Tremblaya princeps, Klebsiella sp., Pantoea agglomerans (Ewing and Fife) and Wigglesworthia glossinidia Aksoy. Many of the endosymbiotic bacteria are attributed in the survival of insects against toxicants.