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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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1990 - 19937
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Subject: Agriculture × End date: 1993 × Start date: 1990 × Type: Thesis ×
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Now showing 1 - 7 of 7
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Standardisation of in Vitro Propagation Technique In Gymnema Sylvestre R. Br.
    (Department of Plantation Crops and Spices, College of Horticulture,Vellanikkara, 1993) Anu, K I; KAU; Nazeem, P A
    A study was taken up in the Department of plantation Crops and Spices, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, During 1991-93, to standardize the in vitro technique for multiplying Gymnema sylvestre R. Br. Which is locally known as ‘Gurmar’. This being the first attempt of micropropagation in this crop , the methodology was to be standardized, from the initial stage itself . Nodal segments, leaf segments as well as stem segments collected from mature vines maintained in the college of horticulture were used as explants in the present study. Different routes like enhance release of axillary buds, organogenesis and embryogenesis were attempted for the plant. The main limitation in establishing in vitro cultures of Gymnema sylvestre was identified to be microbial interference, which was mainly due to the fungus collectotrichum sp. Great seasonal variation was observed for the fungal interference and the period from January to April was identified as the best season for establishing the cultures of Gymnema sylvestre was identified to be microbial interference, which was mainely due to the fungus Collectotrichum sp. Great seasonal variation was observed for the fungal interference and the period from January to April was identified as the best season for establishing the cultures of Gymnema sylvestre. Mercuric chloride at 0.1 per cent level was identified as the best surface sterilant , with the survival rate being 82 to 94 percent according to the explant material used. Basal medium MS supported the cultures of leaf segments while the inorganic salts were to be reduced to half level for supporting the cultures of stem segments. Out of the various growth regulator combinations tried for bud break and healthy shoot elongation in Gymnema, kinetin and IAA could support bud break and healthy shoot production . Coconut water and adenine sulphate when supplemented in the medium favoured healthy shoot induction . Survival rate of newly formed shoots were very poor due to leaf abscission. Higher levels of MgSo4 in the medium helped leaf retention to the extent of 10 per cent . None of the treatments tried could induce roots in the in vitro shoots. Profuse callusing could be induced from leaf and stem segments in MS basal medium supplemented with growth regulators BA+2,4-D, with a callus index ranging from 280 to 360. The calli did not respond to organogenesis. Callus mass consisted of uniform cells without any vascular differentiation . The morphology and growth rate varied according to the growth regulator combinations tried. Stray instances of embryogenesis (6 to 20%) were observed when cultured in growth regulator combinations of BA+NAA, BA+IAA and Kin+2, 4-D. The embryoids developed up to torpedo stage and failed to grow further. They exhibited a strong callusing tendancy and got reverted to the callus stage within 5 days. The results of the study would be a pioneering report that unravels the in vitro response of ‘Gurmar’ for micro propagation. Since the plant exhibited a relatively recalcitrant nature at various stages of in vitro culture , much more concerted efforts are to be made for standardizing the protocol for micropropagation of Gymnema sylve estre.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Germplasm evaluation in horse gram (Dolichor biflorus. L.)
    (Department of Agricultural Botany, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 1993) Swapna, M; KAU; Achamma, Oommen
    A study was undertaken in the Department of Agricultural Botany, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara during October 1992 to February, 1993 to assess the variability existing in a population of 50 genotypes of horse gram. Evaluations based on the physiological parameters were also carried out. The results revealed the presence of sufficient genetic variability in the different genotypes studied, which were of different geographical origin. High heritability and genetic advance exhibited by the characters, length of pods and number of pods per plant point towards the possibility of these traits to be improved by direct selection. Environmental effect was found to be comparatively higher for yield and number of seeds per pod. Correlation studies indicated maximum correlation of yield with number of seeds per pod and number of pods per plant. Association studies among the different traits showed positive significant correlations between the character pairs, plant height and length of pods, number of primary branches and number of pods per plant, days to 50 per cent flowering and days to maturity; length of pods and number of seeds per pod and 100 seed weight and days to maturity. Divergence analysis gave eleven clusters of which, cluster II and VI showed maximum distance of the cluster members from cluster centroids. The members of these two clusters could be considered superior as parents, for hybridization programme. The maximum mean value for yield was exhibited by members of cluster II. The maximum contribution towards genetic divergence was made by the character 100 seed weight. Growth analysis based as physiological parameters like dry matter production, NAR, CGR, LAI and HI suggested that an ideal plant type will be one in which maximum dry matter production, net assimilation rate and leaf area index was observed during the middle growth stage. An efficient partitioning of dry matter towards the reproductive parts was also an essential criterian.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Induced mutations in banana var. Nendran
    (Department of Agricultural Botany, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 1990) Radha Devi, D S; KAU; Krishnan Nair, N
    The present investigations was carried out in the Department of Agricultural Botany, College of Agriculture, Vellayani during 1985-88 and in the plant tissue culture Laboratory attached to the Department of Plantation Crops, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, Thrissur during 1986-88. The project was taken up to standardise the techniques for induced mutagenesis in-vitro and in-vitro in banana (Musa paradiciaca L.) var. nendran and aslo to analyse the direct effect of 60 Co gamma rays on growth and bunch characters in the vM1 and vM3 generations. One, two and three months old suckers of various sizes (after removal of 25 to 75 per cent of the pseudostem) were exposed to 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 2.5 and 3.0 kR gamma rays. For in-vitro mutagenesis, isolated shoot tips were exposed to 0.50, 0.75, 1.00, 1.25 and 1.50 kR gamma rays. Ex-vitro analysis of five plants per treatment per exposure was done in the vM1 generation for various growth, bunch and fruit characters.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Evaluation of selections and hybrids of Vetiver (Vetiveria zizanioides (Lin n .) Nash.)
    (Department of Agricultural Botany, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 1991) Radhakrishnan, G R; KAU; Viswanathan, T V
    Investigations on evaluation of selections and hybrids of vetiver Vetiveria zizanioides (Linn.) Nash, were undertaken using 9 cultivars of vetiver including 5 national collections, 3 hybrids and one South Indian type (ODV-3) . The observations on root characters revealed the superiority of ODV-3 in almost all root characters except root diameter. National collections had roots with maximum diameter. Hybrid 8 was also found superior in root characters. Shoot weight was the highest in ODV-3. No significant difference was observed among the different treatments with respect to shoot root ratio. National collection, in general produced highest percentage of oil per 100 g root especially NC 66415 and NC 66403 whereas ODV-3 produced the lowest percentage of oil. Hybrid 8, had maximum oil yield on per hectare basis. Studies on physico-chemical properties revealed that national collections had in general high specific gravity, refractive index and optical rotation. Oil from national collections was found laevo- rotatory whereas ODV-3 had dextro-rotatory oil. Acid value was higher in hybrids. Ester content, ester value and total vetiverol were higher in national collections. ODV-3 also had high total vetiverol. GLC studies revealed the superiority of NC 66416 with respect to oil quality. It had high vetiverol, vetiverone and low terpene content. Vetiverol was maximum in ODV-3 but had minimum vetiverone in its oil. Hybrid 8 was also found superior with maximum vetiverone content and fairly high content of vetiverol. But terpene content was higher it. Results of the experiment in pots showed that crops had better performance in pot condition with respect to almost all characters, but for oil content. . The observations on plant morphology indicated no clear- cut morphological features employable for exact identification of hybrids, North Indian and South' Indian types. However, data on root characters had shown that the South Indian types had in general long roots with maximum number and weight, than national collections. Root diameter in South Indian types was less. Performance of hybrids was better than national collections.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Variability in inter varietal hybrids and open pollinated seed progenies of black pepper ( Piper nigrum L .)
    (Department of Agricultural Botany, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 1991) Sujatha, R; KAU; Narayanan Namboodiri, K M
    The experiment was conducted at Pepper Research Station,Panniyur and College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara during 1989-90 to study the variability in F hybrids and open pollinated seed progenies of black pepper ( Piper nigrum L.). Fourty five intervarietal F hybrids and 492 open pollinated seed progenies of 1982-83 plantings maintained at the Pepper Research Station, Panniyur were included in the study. Observations on four qualitative and 21 quantitative characters were made from all the available hybrids and open pollinated seed progenies for one season. The data thus obtained were interpreted suitably, after subjecting them to appropriate statistical analyses. Considerable variation was present for both vegetative and reproductive characters in parents, F^ hybrids and open pollinated seed progenies. However, variability did not follow a uniform pattern in these three groups for the various characters. High positive correlation with yield was shown by several characters viz., green spike yield per vine, green berry yield per vine, number of spikes per vine, length of spike, developed berries per spike and thickness of orthotrope node and internode. The path analysis identified number of spikes per vine, length of spike and developed berries per spike as the most important characters influencing yield in the crop. Significant heterosis for important yield related characters viz., number of spikes per vine, length of spike and developed berries for spike was shown by certain hybrids.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Genetic analysis in red gram (Cajanus cajan L.)
    (Department of Agricultural Botany, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 1990) Achamma Oommen; KAU; Narayanan Namboodiri, K M
    The research project "Genetic analysis in red gram" was carried out in the College of Horticulture, Kerala Agricultural University, Vellanikkara, Trichur during the period 1985-90. A 5 x 5 diallel cross, excluding reciprocals conducted in red gram revealed the predominance of additive gene effect for all the characters except days to first flowering. The combining ability analysis showed PLA-550 as the best general combiner; and the F 1 of the cross UPAS-120 x I.C. 15708 to have good specific combining ability. Negative heterosis over both the parents was exhibited by UPAS-120 x I.C. 15708 and PLA-550 x PLA-600 for days to first flowering and days to maturity which showed that early maturing segregants could be obtained from these crosses. The same crosses showed relative heterosis for yield also. The analysis of generation means by using six parameter model revealed the importance of both additive and dominance gene effects in the expression of most of the characters. Additive x additive and dominance x dominance effects showed influence in the expression of the characters. Among the components of variances dominance variance was higher for most of the characters. Heritability in narrow sense was found to be low. Number of clusters per plant and number of pods per plant were highly correlated with yield in parents, F 1 's and F2's. As the yield and yield components in the present study were under all the three types of gene action viz., additive, dominance and epistasis, reciprocal recurrent selection procedure seems to be the best suited method of breeding for improvement of this crop.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Studies on Intercroppng in Rubber Plantation with Ginger, Plantain & Gingelly in Taliparamba Taluk
    (Department of Plantation Crops and Spices, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 1992) Simon, P C; KAU; Naseem, P A
    The average area of a rubber grower in Kerala is less than two hectares. He will have to wait for at least six years to get income from rubber. For the full canopy development, rubber takes four years and the interspace could be utilized for intercropping with remunerative crops during the initial three years.