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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: Entomology × Author: KAU × Author: Raihana, K C × End date: 2005 × Start date: 2000 × Type: Thesis × Thesis Type: M.Sc ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Management of banana pseudostem weevil Odoiporus longicollis Olivier (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) with induced resistance and epideictic compounds
    (Department of Entomology, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 2002) Raihana, K C; KAU; Ranjith, A M
    The present investigation on management of banana pesudostem weevil Odoiporus longicollis Olivier (Coleoptera:Curculionidae) with induced resistance and epideictic compounds was undertaken in the Department of Entomology, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara during 2000-2001. Extraction of epideictic pheromone associated with the weevil, evaluation of the resistance of the moisture stressed Nendran plants to the attack of the weevil and the resistance offered by the progenies of tissue cultured plants of infested plants were considered for the study . Females of 0. longicollis at different population intensities were released on cut pseudo stem of Nendran in the laboratory to arrive at the minimum pest load at which the concentration of epideictic pheromones would deter further oviposition. The results indicated that the weevil numbers above five per pseudostem was deterrent to conspecific emales. Pest load which would deter oviposition on banana was also be assessed by artificial confined release of females in the field. With increase in the pest loads on the plants there was a deterrency effect in the oviposition by the weevils. The maximum oviposition was observed by two weevils per plant (4.25). Even with twenty females per plant the oviposition count was very less (1.75). The oviposition deterrency was due to the deposition of the epideictic pheromone by the conspecific females after egg laying. It was seen that the acetone and ether extracts of pseudo stem pieces of 10 cm where five pairs of weevils had laid their eggs, when sprayed after air drying and dilution with water deterred the oviposition by other females. The acetone extract, air dried and diluted with water was the most effective for the extraction of the pheromone. Identification of the chemical composition of pheromones will help in their utilisation against the weevil. No-choice tests were designed to study the resistance of moisture stressed plants to the weevil attack. The weevil infestation was absent in those plants which received the minimum quantity of water though their yield was low. However, the plants which received slight reduction in the moisture (0.9 IW/CPE) •. gave a yield similar to those plants grown with normal irrigation. Only 40 per cent of these plants was infested when comparing with 90 per cent infestation in control plants. Rind-pulp ratio was also in par with control plants. The results indicated that the plants which receive a slight moisture stress from 6th month onwards at least in the outer sheaths will escape :from the attack of the weevil without affecting the yield adversely. No-choice experiment was conducted on the progemes of infested tissue cultured plants to evaluate the resistance to the weevil attack. The tissue cultured plants was found very resistant to the weevil attack. The experiment was started from the flower bud initiation stage (February). No plant was infested .upto three months after artificial infestation. Infestation was noticed during rainy period. The grades of infestation (0\ and O2) were very low in all the experimental plants.