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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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20161
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Subject: Biotechnology and Molecular Biology × Author: Rosemol, Baby × Start date: 2006 × Type: Thesis ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    In vitro micropropagation protocol for Vanda hybrids with clonal fidelity analysis
    (Centre for Plant Biotechnology and Molecular Biology, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 2016) Rosemol, Baby; KAU; Valsala, P A
    Vanda orchids are one of the most sought after orchids in the international as well as domestic flower markets both as cut flower and potted plants. It is a monopodial orchid with vividly coloured, loosely arranged large beautiful flowers which has a long shelf life. Presently, many Vanda hybrids are becoming prominent even in the home gardens. However the present scenario of importing these hybrids from Thailand, Singapore and Malaysia to meet the Indian demands throws light on the need for developing an efficient propagation method for Vanda orchids. One of the major limiting factors for its spread and large scale cultivation in India is the non-availability of good quality and true to type planting material at a reasonable price. As the demand is more for the true to type plants, micropropagation is mostly recommended for orchid propagation. Hence this study was undertaken to develop an efficient micropropagation protocol for two Vanda hybrids namely Dr.Anek and Sansai Blue and to check the variability between the parents and regenerated plantlets. The different explants tested to initiate the cultures were leaf, root, stem and inflorescence segments. Initially the surface sterilization procedure was standardized for the explants. The results of the experiment showed that treating the explants with 0.1 per cent carbendazim for 20 minutes, followed by 70 per cent ethanol for 5 minutes and 0.1 per cent mercuric chloride for 5 min effectively reduced the microbial contamination with highest percentage of explant survival.Trial was made to initiate cultures using eight reported media compositions. The study showed positive results for inflorescence segments inoculated on to 1/2 MS + 10 mg l-1 BA+ 2 mg l-1 TDZ+30 g l-1 sucrose+7.5 g l-1agar + 250 mg l-1 cefotaxime as observed as direct shooting of the dormant buds. About 80 per cent and 60 per cent culture establishment was brought about in Dr. Anek and Sansai Blue respectively in 9 weeks. The established cultures successfully produced multiple shoots on MS+4.5 ml l-1BA +30 g l-1 sucrose + 7.5 g l-1 agar + 250 mg l-1 cefotaxime both when inoculated with and without the stalk in about 100 days of inoculation of explant. The micro-shoots from cultures without stalk were further transferred to hormone free basal MS media for elongation. Elongated shoots of about 4 cm were transferred to rooting media with a composition of MS + 0.5 mg l-1 NAA + 1 mg l-1 IAA +30 g l-1 sucrose +7.5 g l-1agar + 250 mg l-1 cefotaxime for better rooting of the regenerants. The percentage of rooting was observed to be 72.41 per cent for Dr. Anek and 70.37 per cent in Sansai Blue. The rooted plantlets with ample number of healthy roots were planted outm in small earthen pots with charcoal, coconut husk and brick pieces. These were successfully hardened in net house of 50 per cent shade and showed a hundred percent plantlet survival.Good quality DNA isolated from the mother plants and their respective clones using Rogers and Bendich procedure were analyzed for the clonal fidelity. ISSR analysis was done using 5 UBC (University of British Columbia) primers such as UBC 808, UBC 811, UBC 826, UBC 835 and UBC 841. An average of 8 to 9 bands was obtained from all primers in Dr. Anek and Sansai Blue. Out of 5 primers, UBC 808 and UBC 835 generated polymorphic bands in two clones of Dr. Anek. For Sansai Blue, all five primers generated monomorphic bands for all the mother plants and their respective clones analyzed. The per cent polymorphism in Dr. Anek was calculated to be 1.11 per cent whereas for Sansai Blue, there was no polymorphism detected revealing the true to type nature of the clones. The results showed that the identified protocol for in vitro regeneration of selected Vanda hybrids is a viable protocol since there were no changes in the banding pattern observed in tissue culture plants as compared with that of mother plant. Hence it can be concluded that the developed micropropagation protocol can be used for commercial production of Vanda hybrids without much risk of genetic instability. ISSR markers were effective to evaluate the genetic stability of the clones regenerated from the mother plants by the identified protocol.