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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: Fisheries × Author: Patil Chandrakant, Sitaram × End date: 2004 × Start date: 2001 × Thesis Type: M.Sc ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Role of putative male pheromoneiIn the ovarin maturation of the fresh water prawn Macrobrachium Idella (Hilgendorf)
    (Department of Fishery Biology, College of Fisheries, Panangad, 2001) Patil Chandrakant, Sitaram; KAU; Jose, T M
    Sex pheromones are reported to be present in many crustaceans which mostly have releaser effect on sexual behaviour. The discovery of a male (primer) pheromone with stimulatory effect on ovarian maturation and ovulation has added an important external factor to the basic mechanisms regulating reproduction in fresh water prawns. But studies in these lines are very few in the economically important species of Macrobrachium. Knowledge about this male pheromone will be useful to help or potentiate reproduction and/or extend the breeding period of freshwater prawns, which are of great aquacuItural importance. The present study was carried out in the slender nver prawn, Macrobrachium idella. Seven ovarian maturity stages have been distinguished here. Histological studies of the maturing oocytes helped to understand the changes taking place during oocyte growth and maturation through the progressive maturity stages. Yolk vesicles start appearing in the cytoplasm of oocyte in maturity stage II which is the beginning of vitellogeneis (vitellogenesis I). In stage IV, yolk platelet synthesis starts and 'a peripheral layer of yolk platelets appear in this stage. Later these yolk platelets completely fill the ooplasm through stages V and VI when the ova increase in size enormously. Gonado- somatic index (ovarian index) of different maturity stages was determined and was found useful to differentiate especially the late maturity stages. Ova diameter studies along with the other observations showed a clear picture of protracted multiple spawning in this species with batches of ova undergoing maturation and ovulation in successive maturation cycles. When the females were reared in isolated condition, their ovarian growth was found to be arrested at early stage IV. This restriction of ovarian maturation was found mostly in the second maturation (gonadal) cycle after isolation. But those isolated females which had a common water circulation with males showed normal ovarian maturation and ovulation. Therefore, it can be concluded that a male pheromone exists in this species which is essential for normal ovarian growth and maturation. Another experiment was conducted to find out the tissue source of this putative male pheromone. When these isolated females were exposed to extracts of testis, vas deferens or muscle, both testis and vas deferens extracts were found to stimulate the ovarian maturation and ovulation in isolated females, while the muscle extract (control) was ineffective. This shows that in M idella, the male pheromone is produced by testis and vas deferens or it is produced by testis and transported to vas deferens. Further experiment showed that charcoal extraction destroys the pheromonal activity in testis and vas deferens extract while boiling has no such effect which indicates that the ovary stimulating pehromone in M idella may be a steroidal molecule as reported in some fishes.