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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: Lini, G × End date: 2011 × Start date: 2011 × Type: Thesis ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Biological control of root-knot nematode, Meloidogyne incognita (Kofoid and White, 1919) in banana Musa (AAA) var. Robusta
    (Department of Agricultural Entomology, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 2011) Lini, G; KAU; Susannamma Kurien
    A study entitled ‘Biological control of root-knot nematode, Meloidogyne incognita (Kofoid and White, 1919) in banana, Musa (AAA) var. Robusta’ was carried out in the Department of Agricultural Entomology, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara and Banana Research Station, Kannara during April 2010 to June 2011. The objective of the study was to identify an effective biocontrol agent for the management of root-knot nematode in banana. The species of root-knot nematode was identified and confirmed as M. incognita by the perineal pattern of the white females collected from the infested roots of banana plants from BRS, Kannara. Pot culture experiments were conducted to study the effect of different biocontrol agents viz., Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (AMF), Pseudomonas fluorescens, Paecilomyces lilacinus, Bacillus subtilis and Heterorhabditis indica (EPN) alone and in different combinations in comparison with the commonly used chemical nematicide, carbofuran on the management of root-knot nematode in banana. The effect of the treatments on the biometric characters of banana viz., height of the plant, girth of pseudostem and number of leaves were observed at monthly intervals. When the plants were about to form bunches (seven months after planting) these plants were uprooted and the effects of different treatments on various parameters viz., fresh weight of the whole plant, corm, roots, gall formation on roots and the nematode population in soil and roots were recorded. Among the various treatments tried, the combined application of P. fluorescens and P. lilacinus was found to be very effective in enhancing the biometric characters of banana which was on par with that of carbofuran, followed by P. lilacinus and AMF when treated alone, whereas EPN was found to be the least effective one With regard to nematode population in soil and roots, though carbofuran was found to be the best treatment, this was closely followed by P. fluorescens and P. lilacinus treatment. Same trend was noticed in the case of root knot index, gall formation, fresh weight of whole plant, corm and roots. Application of AMF and EPN were observed as the least effective treatments and recorded maximum nematode population both in soil and roots. . Considering the above results, the present study indicated that the combined application of P. fluorescens and P. lilacinus was found to be the most effective substitute for the chemical nematicide carbofuran for the management of root-knot nematode in banana.