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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: Faseeh, P × End date: 2018 × Start date: 2018 ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Biosystematic studies on stingless bees (apidae: meliponini ) of Kerala
    (Department of Agricultural Entomology, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 2018) Faseeh, P; KAU; Shanas, S
    The study entitled “Biosystematic studies on stingless bees (Apidae: Meliponini) of Kerala” was conducted during the year 2016-2018 at the Department of Agricultural Entomology, College of Agriculture, Vellayani with the objectives of studying the stingless bee diversity of Kerala and to document their nest entrance architecture. A total of 225 different colonies of stingless bees were sampled from all districts of the state. The sampling altitude ranged from 8 m (Kakkanad, Alappuzha district) to 1064 m (Pampadumpara, Idukki district) above mean sea level. Two new species (Tetragonula sp. nov. 1, and Tetragonula sp. nov. 2) of stingless bees based on adult worker specimens are described and illustrated with the help of photographs. They are compared morphologically and molecularly with closely related species. Differences in morphology based on principal component analysis and genetic analysis based on partial sequences of the mitochondrial COI gene barcode region support the recognition of the two new species. Along with the description, an analysis of their phylogenetic relatedness is provided. The genetic analysis reveals that, Tetragonula sp. nov. 1 is closely related to the common species T. iridipennis whereas Tetragonula sp. nov. 2 is distantly related. The inter-specific genetic variation observed between T. iridipennis was in a range 9.02-9.93% and 19.49-20.76% for Tetragonula sp. nov. 1 and Tetragonula sp. nov. 2 respectively. Out of various morphological characters observed, the number of hamuli was found varying within the T. iridipennis colonies. The current study revealed that, there is 10.54% variation in the number of hamuli among the 1651 number of individual bees studied. The normal number of hamuli recorded in this species is 5 on each wing but it varied from 4 to 6 on both wings and also exhibited asymmetry between the left and right wings. The nest entrances of stingless bees varied widely within the colonies of Tetragonula spp. The variation of nest entrance between the genera Tetragonula and Lisotrigona were more prominent. It was observed that, the nest entrance shape of Tetragonula sp. nov. 1 was square whereas it was round in Tetragonula sp. nov. 2. The most common form preferred by T. iridipennis was slit like entrance over oval, heart, round, and arch shaped ones. Length of the nest entrance mouth preferred by T. iridipennis was less than 2cm and the nest entrance width was recorded in a range of 1-2 cm. Out of 54 feral colonies of the T. iridipennis studied, 24 were located at a height less than 1m from the ground level, 25 were located at a height of 1-2 m and 5 colonies were located more than 2 m above the ground. Two stingless bee species. viz., T. iridipennis (Smith) and Lisotrigona cacciae (Nurse) were the only records from Kerala before this study. The discovery of two new species during the present study elevates the total stingless bee fauna of Kerala from 2 to 4 species. As the number of hamuli shows 10.54 % variation, this character should be relied upon with caution while distinguishing species.