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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: Manjushree, G × End date: 2016 × Start date: 2010 × Type: Thesis ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Eco-friendly management of pineapple mealybug, Dysmicoccus brevipes (Cockerell) (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae)
    (Department of Agricultural Entomology, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 2016) Manjushree, G; KAU; Mani, Chellappan
    Pineapple mealybug (Dysmicoccus brevipes) causes severe damage to pineapple crop in Kerala. Apart from the direct damage and it also transmits Pineapple Mealybug Wilt Disease (PMWD). This is a polyphagous pest and its host includes banana, coffee, citrus, palm, sugarcane etc. Use of broad spectrum synthetic insecticides to manage the mealybug has been restricted owing to the residual problem in the fruit and other environmental concerns.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Eco-friendly management of pineapple mealybug, Dysmicoccus brevipes (Cockerell) (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae)
    (College of Horticulture, Vellanikara, 2016) Manjushree, G; KAU; Mani Chellappan, Chellappan
    Pineapple mealybug (Dysmicoccus brevipes) causes severe damage to pineapple crop in Kerala. Apart from the direct damage and it also transmits Pineapple Mealybug Wilt Disease (PMWD). This is a polyphagous pest and its host includes banana, coffee, citrus, palm, sugarcane etc. Use of broad spectrum synthetic insecticides to manage the mealybug has been restricted owing to the residual problem in the fruit and other environmental concerns. Hence, the present study, “Eco-friendly management of pineapple mealybug, Dysmicoccus brevipes (Cockerell) (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae)’’ was carried out at Department of Agricultural Entomology, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, during September 2014 to June 2016, with the objectives to document the natural fauna of Dysmicoccus brevipes and to formulate eco-friendly measures for managing the pest polulation Laboratory rearing of D. brevipes was done on pumpkin fruits. The mealybugs reproduced parthenogenetically. Males were absent in the population.Life cycle of females consisted of three nymphal instars and adult stage. The mean duration of first and second nymphal instars were 10.8 and 13.7 days, respectively. The average third nymphal instar period was 15.6 days. Adult females lived for an average of 23.2 days with pre-larviposition, larviposition and post-larviposition period of 8.7, 4.5 and 9.8 days, respectively. An adult female deposited an average of 144.5 crawlers. The total life cycle completed within 63.4 days. Number of antennal segments varied among each instars. The first and second instar nymphs had six antennal segments each while third instar nymphs and adult possessed seven and eight antennal segments respectively. To document the natural enemies of D. brevipes, purposive survey was done in selected locations of Ernakulam, Idukki and Thrissur districts. The natural enemies recorded included four predators [Spalgis epius (Westwood), Cacoxenus perspicax (Knab) and two unidentified species of Scymnus] and one parasitoid (Chartocerus sp.). Three species of Entomopathogenic fungi (EPF) viz., Metarhizium anisopliae, Beauveria bassiana and Lecanicillium lecanii were evaluated at three different concentrations (1x107, 1x108 and 1x109 spores ml-l) under laboratory conditions against D. brevipes. Highest spore concentration of all the entomopathogenic fungi resulted in higher mortality of mealybugs. L. lecanii @ 1x109 spores ml-l concentration had resulted in 66.67 per cent mortality. Similarly, in case B. bassiana and M. anisopliae @ 1x109 spores ml-l concentration mortality of 60 and 40 per cent, respectively was observed. In pot culture studies, the best performing concentration of EPF from the laboratory assay was evaluated along with a botanical insecticide and a standard check (quinalphos 25EC @ 0.05%). Ten days after the first treatment application, highest reduction was observed in quinalphos (96.73%) followed azadirachtin (87.75%). Among the three EPF tested, M. anisopliae caused the maximum reduction of (59.29%) of mealybug. Similarly, second spray of M. anisopliae and B. bassiana recorded maximum reduction of 72.72 and 70.98 per cent, which were statistically on par with each other. After the third spray, L. lecanii resulted in highest reduction (90.04%) of mealybugs which was on par with the reduction obtained by quinalphos (95.20%) application. Infestation of Dysmicoccus brevipes induced changes in pineapple fruit quality and it was estimated by quantifying the Total Soluble Sugars (TSS), content of the fruit at varied level of infestation. Fruits with heavy infestation of mealybugs showed less TSS content (8.74° brix) compared to the TSS level in medium and low infestation (9.93° brix and 11.31° brix, respectively).