Thumbnail Image

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.

Browse

20181
Reset filters
Subject: Agricultural Microbiology × Author: KAU × Author: Nysanth, N S × End date: 2018 × Start date: 2018 × Thesis Type: M.Sc ×
Reset filters

Search Results

Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
  • Thumbnail Image
    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Isolation and characterization of pink pigmented facultative methylotrophs (PPFMs) associated with paddy
    (Department of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 2018) Nysanth, N S; KAU; Meenakumari, K S
    The study entitled “Isolation and characterization of Pink Pigmented Facultative Methylotrophs (PPFMs) associated with paddy” was conducted in the Department of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Agriculture, Vellayani during the period 2015-2017. The main objectives of the study were isolation, characterization and evaluation of Pink-Pigmented Facultative Methylotrophs (PPFMs) associated with paddy for antagonistic efficiency, seed germination, seedling growth and yield of paddy. . The pink pigmented facultative methylobacteria (PPFM) were isolated from phyllosphere of paddy collected from different locations of Kerala by leaf imprint method on Ammonium Mineral Salt (AMS) agar medium supplemented with 0.5% methanol and cycloheximide. Forty six isolates were obtained from different locations and code numbers were allotted for each of the isolate. They were tentatively identified as PPFMs based on the characteristic pink pigmented colonies on AMS agar supplemented with 0.5% methanol as sole source of carbon and energy. The product developed by Tamil Nadu Agricultural University was taken as the reference culture. Indole Acetic Acid production by the different isolates of PPFM showed wide variations ranging from 9.27 to 68.65 μg mL-1 of culture filtrate. Maximum IAA production of 68.65μg mL-1 of culture filtrate was recorded by PPFM35. The reference culture produced 57.39 μg mL-1 of IAA. All the isolates were found to produce carotenoid pigment in varied quantity ranging from 0.07 to 1.74 μg mL-1. Among these isolates, the highest carotenoid production was recorded in PPFM16 (1.74 μg mL-1). The reference culture recorded a total carotenoid production of 0.64 μg mL-1. The antagonistic efficiency of all forty seven PPFM isolates including reference culture was assessed against two important fungal pathogens of paddy namely, Rhizoctonia solani, Pyricularia oryzae and one bacterial pathogen, Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae following dual culture method. Six out of forty seven isolates tested inhibited Rhizoctonia solani. The results revealed that the isolate PPFM 10 exhibited the maximum zone of inhibition (ZOI) of 12.72 mm. The reference culture inhibited Rhizoctonia solani and produced a ZOI of 9.07mm. Four out of forty seven isolates tested showed antagonistic activity against Pyricularia oryzae with PPFM24 producing the maximum zone of inhibition of 10.00 mm. Four out of forty seven isolates tested inhibited Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae and PPFM5 produced the maximum ZOI of 9.80 mm diameter. In the study on the effect of PPFM isolates on seed germination and seedling growth both treated and uninoculated control seeds germinated on the second day of seed treatment. Maximum germination percentage of 100 was recorded in seeds treated with PPFM35. Treatment with PPFM30 recorded the maximum shoot length of 26.38 cm and maximum root length of 24.20 cm was obtained in seeds treated with PPFM22 and same isolate recorded the highest seedling vigour index of 4756.35 over the control (3037.91). The root shoot ratio of seedlings showed significant increase when seeds were treated with PPFM isolates. Maximum root shoot ratio of 0.62 was observed when seeds were treated with PPFM26 and PPFM35 compared to control (0.33). A pot culture experiment was conducted using variety Jyothi (Ptb-39)) in completely randomized design using wetland soil. Seedlings were dipped in 2 per cent of liquid culture of the PPFM isolates before transplanting. One per cent foliar spray of the liquid culture of respective isolates was given 15 and 30 days after transplanting. Appropriate control treatments and replications were maintained. Application of PPFM isolates significantly increased growth and biomass production. Also the yield of paddy was significantly increased. PPFM11 recorded the highest grain yield of 46.30 g hill-1 whereas the control recorded a grain yield of 33.65 g hill-1 only. The reference culture recorded a grain yield of 38.40 g hill-1. Physiological characterization of plants revealed significant influence of PPFM isolates on chlorophyll content, cell membrane stability and proline content of the plant compared to untreated plants. The isolates PPFM11, PPFM16, PPF19, PPFM22 and PPFM35 were adjudged as superior isolates based on maximum germination percentage, seedling vigour index, growth promotion efficacy and grain yield of paddy. These five isolates were identified as Methylobacterium spp. based on morphological, biochemical and molecular characteristics.