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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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Subject: Economic Botany and Plant Genetic Resources × Author: KAU × Type: Thesis × Thesis Type: M.Sc ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Induction of autotetraploid in ginger
    (Department of Plantation Crops and Spices, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 1996) Sheeba, P T; KAU; Alice, Kurian
    A study was conducted at the College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara during the year 1994-95 with a view to induce autotetraploids and to create variability in ginger. Induction of autotetraploidy was tried in four commercial varieties of ginger namely Himachal Pradesh, Maran, Nadia and Rio-de-Janeiro using three concentrations of colchicines (0.10, 0.25 and 0.40%) and two methods of application (injection and hole). The effect of colchicines on survival of plants and cytomorphological characters were recorded. Colchicine treatment by the hole method reduced the survival of plants which decreased with increase in concentration. The colchicines treated plants showed slower initial growth which exceeded the control during later stage of growth. Number of tillers, number of leaves and leaf area were not significantly influenced by colchicines treatment. Application of colchicines at low concentration is advocated in ginger to have a stimulatory effect on biometric characters. Hole method of treatment was preferential to injection in having a positive influence on biometric characters. With respect to yield, colchicines at the lowest concentration of 0.10 per cent applied by hole method recorded the highest yield. Stomatal size and frequency were not significantly influenced by varieties, concentrations and methods of application. Individual plants with fewer stomata and larger size were isolated as suspected autotetraploids. Out of the thirteen plants, plants with 2n = 44 against 2n = 22 in control were confirmed as autotetraploids. Two autotetraploids were derived from the variety Himachal Pradesh treated with 0.25 per cent colchicine by injection method and Rio-de-Janeiro treated with 0.10 per cent colchicines by hole method. The autotetraploids were characterized by slower initial growth which surpassed the diploid control during later stages, reduced number of tillers and leaves with increased leaf area and larger epidermal cells and stomata with reduced number/mm2 of leaf. The autotetraploid derived from Rio-de-Janeiro showed increased pollen fertility than the diploid. The autotetraploids recorded higher rhizome yield than the corresponding diploids consistently during the second year also. Morphological variants with higher yield potential than the autotetraploids were also screened out for further evaluation.