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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: Floriculture and Landscaping × Author: Jisha, V × Author: KAU × Start date: 1990 × Type: Thesis ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Floral biology and compatibility in gladiolus
    (Department Of Pomology And Floriculture,College Of Horticulture,Vellanikkara, 1999) Jisha, V; KAU; Suma, A
    The present investigation on 'Floral biology and compatibility in gladiolus was conducted in the Department of Pomology and Floriculture, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara during the period from July 1997 to December 1998. The investigations on floral biology, pollen studies and the extent of compatibility between different varieties were done in the experimental field of AICRP on Floriculture. All the varieties showed significant variation among themselves for all the characters studied. Accession-l showed maximum corm germination percentage (94.89), plant height (68.86 cm), leaf number (9.44), spike length (64.67 cm), spike yield per plant (3.11) and took minimum days for spike emergence (46.56) and first flowering (60.44 days). These desirable qualities combined in a single variety indicate its scope for using in further breeding programme. American Beauty had maximum duration of flowering (12.44 days) and highest cormel number (8.11). Agnirekha had maximum number of florets per spike (15.00) and corm weight (31.66 g). Mansoer Red had highest spike weight (25.63 g) and Wedding Bouquet had maximum floret size (11.14 cm) and cormel size (1.84). Maximum number of florets per spike was observed in Pacific. It had longest vase life (8.66 days), corm size (5.18 cm) and conn number (1.78) also. Tambri showed maximum cormel weight (4.65 g). In all the varieties fullanthesis occurred from 7.15 a.m. and peak time was 9.00 a.m. Anthers dehisced within two to three hours after unfurling of perianth .. Stigma became receptive only after it turned feathery. By 9.30 a.m. on the day of anthesis stigma turned feathery and after that upto two days it remained receptive. White Friendship had maximum pollen fertility (85.90 %) and pollen production per anther (39500) while Pacific registered highest pollen diameter (38.09 J.!). Maximum pollen germination was observed in 15 per cent sucrose + 75 ppm boric acid medium for the two varieties studied viz., White Friendship and Accession-L Pollen viabil ity was the highest when stored in desiccator at 4"C. High heritability and high genetic advance were observed in characters I ike days to first flowering, spike length and leaf area: This shows that most likely the heritability is due to additive gene effects and selection may be effective for these characters. PCV and GCV were high for leaf area, spike yield per plant, number of florets open at a time and duration of flowering and they were low in the case of vase life, spike length, plant height and leaf number. The number of florets per spike which determines the market quality had positive correlation with spike weight, number of florets open at a time and leaf area. So the number of florets per spike can be increased with the improvement of any of these characters. A straight away selection from - gennplasm lines will be very effective for making improvement in this character. The genotypic correlation coefficients were found to be higher than the phenotypic correlation coefficients for most of the characters. This indicates that the environment had lesser effects on these characters. The direct and indirect effects of 12 characters on number of florets per spike showed that spike weight had the maximum direct effect on number of florets per spike: It was followed by duration of flowering, collar girth, spike length and vase life. The direct selection for the characte-s like spike weight and duration of flowering would be beneficial for crop improvement, since these two also showed positive correlation coefficients. Negative direct effects on number of florets per spike was from days to first flowering, plant height, floret size, leaf area, leaf number and spike yield per plant. The highest positive indirect effect on number of florets per spike was of leaf area through spike weight. The indirect effect of duration of flowering on number of florets per spike through number of florets open at a time was the lowest. Ten gladiolus varieties namely, White Friendship, Tambri, Echo Saunder, American Beauty, Tiger Flame, Wedding Bouquet, Accession-l , Accession-2, Amal and Pacific were selected and crossed in all possible combinations. In Amal and Tambri there was no pod development and seed set in both cross pollination and self pollination tests. In self pollination, pod set, number of seeds per pod and weight of seeds per pod were higher than that in cross pollination. Pods took 25 to 35 days to mature. In self compatibility Accession-I had maximum -pod set (100 %) and highest number of seeds per pod (77.21). Weight of seeds . per pod was highest in Wedding Bouquet (1.36 g). In cross compatibility, the pod set was maximum in Accession-2 x White Friendship (91.78 %) and the number of seeds per pod was highest in Accession-? x Accession-I. Thc weight of seeds per pod was maximum in Tiger Flame x Amal (0.92 g). The seed germination percentage was maximum in Pacific (78.94 %) in self compatibility studies. In cross compatibility the seed germination percentage was highest in Accession-2 x White Friendship. The varieties with highest number of florets per spike, vase life and early flowering were observed in this investigation. Also the compatible varieties were identified. These varieties can be exploited in further breeding programmes in gladiolus.