Thumbnail Image

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.

Browse

20111
Reset filters
Subject: Fisheries × Author: Jayaraj, G × Author: KAU × Thesis Type: M.F.Sc ×
Reset filters

Search Results

Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
  • Thumbnail Image
    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Molecular taxonomy of selected species of macrobrachium bate, 1868 (DECAPODA, PALAEMONIDAE) of Kerala waters
    (Department of Fishery Biology, College of Fisheries, Panangad, 2011) Jayaraj, G; KAU; Jayachandran, K V
    Freshwater prawns of the genus Macrobrachium are a conspicuous and important prawn constitute one of the most diverse, abundant and widespread crustacean genera. They are distributed in different water bodies of the tropical and subtropical regions of the world and comprises over 200 described species (Jayachandran, 2001). The palaenonids have taxonomically difficult groups because they appear to be morphologically higher conservative and also greater confusion among the evolutionary status. The present study was carried out both on morphological and molecular data to investigate the confirmation of species status and finding phylogenetic relationship of selected species of Macrobrachium in kerala waters. The species of M. canarae, M. idella, M. latimanus and M. scabriculum were collected from different water bodies of kerala, such as hill streams, rivers and brackish water. The four species inhabit varied habitats: M. latimanus is a hill stream prawn; M. canarae inhabits valleys without migration; M. idella and M. scabriculum inhabits lower stretches of river with estuarine migrations. These species were accurately identified based on morphology of earlier literature done by Jayachandran, 2001 and it shows variations within the individuals of M. idella. The use of DNA based methods to infer phylogenetic relationship can potentially overcome some of the difficulties encountered through the use of morphological characters. In molecular part, 16S rRNA and COI genes of mitochondrial DNA were analysed. Sequences of 16S rRNA and COI were obtained and submitted to NCBI. Based on sequence information, M. canarae shows few minor variations within the individuals. M. idella is shows significant variations within the two types of individuals. M. latimanus is shows separate clades of other country species. M. scabriculum is also shows significant variation with NCBI sequence of M. scabriculum. Phylogenetic relationship is clearly shows two types of M. idella based on NJ and MP tree. Hence, both morphological and molecular data is very effective for finding species variants and phylogeny.