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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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  • ThesisItemOpen Access
    Vegetative, Floral and fruit characters in mangosteen (Garcinia mangostana L.)
    (Department of Pomology and Floriculture, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 1996) Ajay Alex; KAU; Sarah, T George
    The present investigations on the growth habit, phases of growth, flowering and floral biology, fruit development, seed viability and storage life of mangosteen were carried out in the Department of Pomology and Floriculture, College of Horticulture, during the period 1994-96. The studies indicated that shoot growth in mangosteen coincided with the main flushing season from June to August and with a second one from January to February. Maximum shoot growth was observed during July. The growth of the tree was slow, with an extension growth of 6.91 cm in an year. The tree had a monopodial orthotropic trunk meristem which showed continuous growth. Laterals exhibited plagiotropy, sympodial growth and sylleptic branching habit. Leaf arrangement was spiral in the seedling stage but distichous on the branches of mature tree. Emerging leaves which were purplish red, later changed to dark green. The flowering season was from December to January. But development was completed in 28 days. Flowers were female and borne terminally on branchlets either singly or in groups of two to four. Flower drop was meager. Peak anthesis period was between 17.30 and 18.00 hours. Flowers had four scarlet red sepals and four yellow petals each having imbricate aestivation. Androecium consisted of 18-20 staminodes. Gynoecium was syncarpous with five to seven carpels having single ovule in each locule on axile placentation. Style was short and had a five to seven fid capitate stigma at its end. Anthers failed to dehisce until flower opening but a few showed signs of dehiscence after anthesis. Stigma showed no signs of receptivity. Anthers produced numerous non viable pollen grains which failed to germinate in vitro. Different methods of pollination had no effect on fruit set. Initial set was high but a fruit drop of 41 per cent occurred during first month. Though fruit development was parthenocarpic and seed development parthenogenetic, seeds produced were viable. Therefore, mangosteen can be considered as an obligate agamosperm where proembryos developing from integuments of embryosac mature into embryos. Pulp development took place from 42nd day onwards. Average weight of ripened fruit was 100 g. The percentage contribution of pulp towards total fruit weight at ripening stage was 33.00 per cent as against 62.30 and 4.70 per cent in the case of rind and seed, respectively. Chemical composition of pulp showed a decreasing trend. Total sugars, reducing sugars, non reducing sugars and sugar : acid ratio increased upto harvest. Season of harvest coincided with South West monsoon. Stage of harvest was identified as 90 days after fruitset. Such fruits ripened normally in two days at ambient temperature and showed no difference in quality as compared to that of tree ripened fruit. At this stage, 25 per cent of the fruit skin developed a purple colour and scar formed at the stalk end was smooth, without any exudation of gum. Mechanical injury should be avoided during harvesting and handling to save fruits from Transluscent Flesh Disorder. Yield varied from 650 to 3350 fruits/tree. Number of segments, which was same as that of stigmatic lobes, ranged from four to seven. However, number of viable seeds ranged from zero to three. Fruits caught in the rain were severely affected with gamboges, a disorder, which accounted to about 33.82 per cent fruit loss. Exudation of yellow gum from the rind was the characteristic symptom. The fruit pulp also became yellow, gummy, corky, bitter in taste and inedible. Biochemical analysis showed that ripened fruit contained water 76.57, protein 0.5, citric acid 0.32, total sugars 17.02, reducing sugars 3.22, non reducing sugars 13.80, nitrogen 0.28, phosphorus 0.01, potassium 0.13, calcium 0.01 and magnesium 0.24 on percentage basis. Sugar : acid ratio, TSS and ascorbic acid content was 53.18, 27.00 0brix and 5 mg/100 g, respectively. β carotene was only in traces. Fruits stored under refrigerated conditions showed no quality deterioration and fruit loss even after one month of storage. Fruits kept in bamboo baskets lasted for a fortnight. Keeping quality of fruits even without any treatment was more than a week. During storage TSS, sugars and sugar: acid ratio decreased, whereas acidity increased with the storage period. Seeds varied in size and shape. Viability was very high when sown immediately after harvest. Storage reduced the viability and was completely lost by 35 days of storage. Seeds took 20 days for germination. Germination was hypogeal with single seedlings arising normally, but 10 per cent polyembryony with 2-4 seedlings/seed was also noticed.