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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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19854
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Subject: Agriculture × Author: KAU × End date: 1985 × Start date: 1985 × Thesis Type: M.Sc ×
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Now showing 1 - 4 of 4
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Estimation of induced variability in chillies
    (Department of agricultural botany , College of agriculture Vellayani, Trivandrum., 1985) Lekha Rani, C; KAU; Krishnan Nair, N
    The mutagenic effect of Co-gamma rays and Ethylmethane sulphonate on three different chilli varieties have bean studied in detail in generation U3 ing two moderate doses of gamma rays <20 and 30 kR) and two concentrations of ISMS (0.5 and 1*0 par cent)* The presence and extent of chimeras and their relation to induced variability was assessed by raising branch-wise progenies in ^ generation* The experiment was conducted during 1982-84 at the Department of Agricultural Botany# College of Agriculture, Vellayani* The generation was laid out in RBD and in splitplot design with proper randomisation and replications* The crop wa3 raised and maintained following the Package of Practices recommended. The polygenic traits analysed in a, generalisen include plant height, number of branches per plant, fruit yield per plant and length and weight of fruits. The data collected were statistically analysed for proper interpretation of tho results obtained. It has been observed in almost all the polygenic traits that the extent of variability created vary depending on the genotypes, mutagen and their dosos and character under observation. The mean values wer« found to shift both in negative and positive directions to control values• significant shift in mean values depending on the type of branch category clearly demonstrates that there exists the mechanism of diplontlc selection in this particular crop variety# when exposed to mutagens. But the extent of selection varies depending on the mutagen and their doses and the genotypes concerned. a significant negative shift in mean Value was noted only in the case of fruit weight under both the concentrations of EM3 and 20 kR gamma rays whereas a positive or negative insignificant shift was noted in all other characters under both the mutagens, when under EM3 and in gansna rays showed a negative shift* positive shift in mean value wes noted in majority of the cases for number of branches per plant. Fruit length and weight and number of seeds per fruit showed a negative shift in majority of the cases analysed# but fruit number and yield per plant showed a reverse trend. The shift in mean value under the different branch categories varied depending on the varieties# mutagens and their doses and also the character under study. The phenotypes were found toAdistributedboth in negative and positive directions to control group in all the characters analysed. The frequency distribution whether negative or positive varied depending on the mutagen and their doses# the genotypes and character under study. In majority of tha cases the maximum frequencies of positive variants under both the concentrations of EMS and under 0.5 per cent for negative variants were found to be in the early formad branches when it was in the later ones is tha case of negative variants under 1.0 per cent EMS. in the case of gamma rays this general trend was not observed* The data analysed clearly demonstrate the existence of diplontic selection and promises wide scope for positive selection response either in negative or positive directions.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Pollination studies in cashew
    (Department of Agricultural Botany, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 1985) Elsy, C R; KAU; Narayanan Namboodiri, K M
    Investigation on the various aspects of pollination viz., flower opening, fruit set and fruit drop under natural pollination and assisted pollination, effect of pollinating agents and intensity of pollen in the atmosphere were undertaken at the Cashew Research station, Madakkathara and Department of Agricultural Botany, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara during 1983-84, on six year old BLA-139/1 trees (air layers) under uniform cultural and manurial conditions. The data were subjected to various statistical analysis. The results have shown that the period of flower opening in both male and hermaphrodite flowers was same, starting after 23 hr and extending upto 15 hr next day. The peak period of flower opening for male flowers was between 7 and 9 hr and for hermaphrodite flowers between 9 and 11 hr. Climatic factors such as temperature, sunshine hours, relative humidity and wind velocity have not shown any significant influence on the magnitude of flower opening. Type BLA-139/1 has a relatively low sex-ratio of 1: 2. 83 resulting a higher percentage of hermaphrodite flowers. There is variation in sex-ratio even within the panicles of the same tree. When compared to natural pollination, assisted pollination resulted in significantly higher initial fruit set indicating the inefficiency or inadequacy of pollinating agents. But the higher initial fruit set was not fully reflected in the percentage of fruits harvested since a major portion of the set fruits dropped at different stages of development. In both cases of natural and hand pollination, fruit droop was more in early stages of nut development. This necessitates the need for improving the initial fruit set and more over reducing post fertilization drop for higher yields in cashew. In completely bagged panicles no fruit was set, confirming the cross pollinated nature of cashew. The failure of fruit set in water sprayed panicles rules out the possibility of water as a pollinating agent. Wind plays a significant role in cashew pollination along with insects like red and black ants, honey bees and butterflies which frequently visit cashew inflorescence. The intensity of pollen grains on the atmosphere was 20 times higher than that of hermaphrodite flowers in a unit area.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Induced mutations in Bhindi (Abelmoschus esculentus L. Moench)
    (Division of Agricultural Botany, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 1985) Pillay Mahalekshmy, Krishna; KAU; Krishnan Nair, N
    Mutations induced in bhindi (Abelmoshus esculentus L. Moench) Var. Anakomban by the most potent physical mutagen, 60 Co-gamma rays were studied using six doses. The investigation was carried out at the Department of Agricultural Botany, College of Agriculture, Vellayani during the year 1982-84. The direct effect of the mutagen was assessed in the M1 generation and the extent of variability in he M2 with special reference to polygenic and economically important characters. The doses employed were 10 to 60 kR at an interval of 10 kR exposures.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Genic status in relation to radlosensltlvity, mutation frequency and spectrum in Bhindi
    (Department of Agricultural Botany, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 1985) Mareen Abraham; KAU; Krishnan Nair, N
    The effect of 30 RR ^Co-gamma rays on different genotypes of Bhindi (Abelmoschus esculentus Moench) have been studied in detail in M1 and M2 generations, The experiments were conducted during 1981-83 at the Department of Agricultural Botany, College of Agriculture, Vallayani, There were 20 different genotypes including both pure and hybrid seeds. The M1 generation was laid out in RBD with two replications and maintained following the package of practices recommended for this particular crop. The radio sensitivity of the different genotypes wore tested based on the direct effect of the mutagen in M1 generation. The treated hybrid materials along with their control, parental varieties and 30 kR exposed parental types were carried further to H2 generation to assess the extent of variation created in the segregating M2 generation. Proper lay out, maintenance of the crop and data collection were followed in segregating generation also. The data collected were statistically analysed for proper interpretation of the results obtained. To assess the direct effect of the mutagen in M1 generation various growth metrics such as germination percentage, days to complete germination, plant height, number of loaves and branches per plant at 30 days interval, pollen and seed sterility and various fruit characters including yield per plant were taken into consideration. All the characters analysed showed difference in expression depending on the genotypes concerned. Majority of the growth characters showed significant reduction in gaiapa ray treated population compared to their respective controls. A delay in germination was noted in majority of the genotypes. Growth metric analysis clearly demonstrated that eventhough treatment delays the crop growth in early stages, at later phases of growth the plant rectifies itself and attains maximum expression as in the case of control population. All the genotypes tested showed increased pollen and seed sterility due to gamma ray exposure, which directly influences the number of fruits produced per plant. Yield per plant showed significant variation among the treatments and in majority of the genotypes gamma rays significantly reduced yield potentiality of the plants* Based on seed sterility percentage, it was possible to group the plants under low, medium and high sterile types.