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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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19833
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Subject: Agricultural Entomology × End date: 1983 × Start date: 1983 × Type: Thesis ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Studies on the pests of chromolaena in Kerala
    (Department of Agricultural Entomology, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 1983) Lyla, K R; KAU; Joy, P J
    A detailed survey was conducted in Trichur District and an objective survey in five other selected districts of the Kerala State during November 1980 to October 1981 to study the pests of choromolaena odorata Linn. Observations on the nature of damage and population density have been made during the survey. Details of the insects recorded on the weed are given below. 1. Hemipteran pests 1.1 Aphis spiraecola patch These aphids were recorded in all the areas surveyed and alate and apterous forms were available. There are four instars each occupying one to two days and the adult six to ten days. The alate forms occurred at relatively lower levels compared to apterous form. In both cases, maximum population was in July irrespective of the topographic conditions. Both the nymphs and adults such sap from the tender shoots thereby reducing the vigour of the plant. 1.2 Aphis fabae scopoli Both apterous and alate forms were observed. Here also the aphid population attained peak level in July both in medium hilly areas and plains. The aphid infested leaves presented a crinkled appearance. 1.3 Braschycaudus helichrysi kitb These were noted in higher elevations like Idukki and Wynad areas and were absent in Trichur District. The aphid attacked leaves become folded and rolled longitudinally. 1.4 Coptosoma sp. These bugs were observed throughout the growth phase of the weed. Adults suck sap from tender parts of the plant without causing any serious damage. 1.5 Sepontia nigrofusea Dist. These bugs suck sap from the weed causing negligible damage and were present in very few number at Pananchery Village. 1.6 Tettigella ceylonica melich. These appeared only as casual feeders of C.odorata and their populations were extremely low for affecting any appreciable damage. 1.7 Bemisia tabaci. Gen. The adult suck sap from tender parts of the weed and the population level was very low. 1.8 Leptocorisa acuta thumb. These were found in the Puzhakkal Village and the bugs suck sap from the weed. 1.9 Riptortus pedestris Fb. The adults suck sap from tender shoots and were found in few number. 1.10 Dysdercus koenigii Fb. The adults suck sap from the weed without causing any appreciable damage. 1.11 Leptocentrus sp. These bugs suck sap from the plant throughout the growth phase of the weed, but the population count was very low. 1.12. Cocosterphus minutes Fabricius These insects were present in few numbers and suck sap from the weed. 2. Coleopteran pests 2.1 Apion sp. As a result of feeding of the weevil irregular holes are formed on leaf surface. These feed on the flowers during the flowering season. 2.2 Unidentified curculionid They eat away portions of the leaf creating holes on the surface. 2.3 Astycus aurovittatus Heller The weevil was found feeding the foliage of the weed during December. 2.4 Amblyrrhinus sp. They feed on the leaves and flowers by cutting small holes on them. 2.5 Mylabris sp. These feed on the weed flowers occasionally. 2.6 Corynodes sp. These beetles feed on the leaves making irregular holes here and there. 2.7 Carvedon sp. These insects were found feeding on the flowers occasionally. 3. Lepidopteran pests 3.1Pericallis ricini Fb. The young larvae feed on the surface tissue of young leaves and in the later instars they feed both by scrapping and by eating the whole leaf lamina. 3.2 Discrisia oblicua wlk. Larvae found defoliating the weed 4. Dipteran pest 4.1 Unidentified agromyzid The larvae mine into the leaves and eat through the mesophyll leaving the two epidermal layers intact. 5. Thysanopteran pest 5.1 Haplothrips gowdeyi franklin Both nymphs and adults feed by lacerating the tissues of the inflorescence and found in numbers. Out of 23 species of insects recorded to occur on c. odorate coptosoma sp.(plataspididae:Hemiptera),Sepontia nigrofusca (Plataspididae: Hemiptera),Tettigella ceylonica (Cicadelliade: Hemiptera)Leptocorisaacuta (Coreidae: Hemiptera)Riptortus pedestris(Coreidae: Hemiptera)Coccosterphus minuts(Membracidae: Hemiptera)Astycus aurovittatus (Curculionidae:Coleoptera) Amblyrinus sp.(Curculionides sp. Coleoptera)Mylabris sp.(Meloidae:Coleoptera)Corynodes sp.(chrysomelidae: Coleoptera) Caryedon sp.(Bruchidae: Coleoptera),pericallia ricini (Arctide:Lepidoptera) and Haplothrips gowdeyi(phloethripidae:Thysanoptera) are reported for the first time. Among the insects, the most widespread and numerous were A.spiraecola and A.fabae in that order.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Biology, Bionomics and control of coconut cockchafer Leucopholis coneophora Burm.
    (Division of Agricultural Entomology, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 1983) Abraham, V A; KAU; Mohan Das, M
    The biology of the coconut cockchafer Leucopholic coneophora Burm. was studied in detail for the first time. Techniques for rearing the pests from egg to adult in potted palnts kept in field were standardized. The egg laying behaviour of adults was observed. The morphological changes off eggs, different instars of grubs and pupae during development were studied in detail. The changes in immature stages of male and female insects were traced separately. The general morphology of different instars of the grubs was studied in full with a view to finding distinct identifying characters for each.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Host resistance in brinjal varieties to the fruits and shoot borer Leucinodes orbonalis Guen ( Lepidoptera: pyralidae)
    (Department of Agricultural Entomology, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 1983) Madhavan, Nair G; Abraham, C C
    In studies on the host plant resistance in brinjal (Solanum melongena L.) against the shoot and fruit borer, Leucinodes orbonalis Guen. (Lepidoptera : Pyralidae), germplasm materials were screened to identify sources of resistance and an attempt was made to investigate the mechanisms of resistance involved. Forty accessions of brinjal and related species were initially screened in a field trial conducted during the monsoon season of 1982 and these were classified into highly susceptible, moderately susceptible, moderately resistant and resistant classes. The accessions SM-6, SM-56, SM-72 and SM-74 from the highly susceptible group; SM-1, SM-45, SM-48 and SM-71 from in moderately susceptible group; SM-65, SM-68, SM-97 and SM-105 from the moderately resistant group and SM-67, SM-88, S.indicum and S.incanum from the resistant group were further field tested during the summer season, 1982-83 and were evaluated for the levels of resistance. Under artificial infestation of caged single plants of the accessions by the first instar larvae of L. orbonalis, the susceptibility spectrum was found to be similar to the trend noticed in the field trials. In the resistant types, the infestation by L. orbonalis occurred for a relatively shorter duration than in the susceptible ones. In studies on the antibiosis, it was found that the resistant accessions gave rise to larvae and pupae of reduced weights which took longer durations as compared to the highly susceptible accessions. The larval survival was lower in the resistant types. The highly susceptible accessions produced more females than did the resistant line. There was no significant variation in the fecundity of second generation females. In multiple-choice and no-choice tests, the females of L.orbonalis showed a clear preference for the highly susceptible and moderately susceptible accessions for oviposition. Correlation studies revealed that the density of trichomes on the shoot apex, lower leaf surface and lower surface of midribs exerted considerable influence on the ovipositional response of the female moth, the relationship between oviposition and trichome density being of a negative nature. Among the biophysical characters, the higher density of trichomes on shoot apex and lower midrid; lower pith area, lingnified selerenchymatous hypodermis and compact vascular bundles in shoot apex and tight or semi-tight calyx in fruit were found to impart resistance to borer infestation. Positive correlations were detected between the mean percentages of total sugars, crude protein, total ash, nitrogen, potassium and calcium in the fruit on the one hand and fruit infestation on the other. The contents of total ash, calcium, magnesium and iron in shoots on the one hand and shoot infestation on the other were also found to be positively correlated, while silica, zinc, copper and crude fibre contents were negatively correlated with shoot infestation.The implications of the findings have been discussed.