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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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ThesisItem Open Access Effect of time of planting and growth regulators on flowering and vase life of Gerbera jamesonii(Department of Pomology and floriculture and Landscaping, College of Horticulture,Vellanikara, 1993) Suma, P; KAU; Lila Mathew, KStudies were carried out in the Department of pomology and Floriculture, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, Thrissur, during 1991 – 93 to examine the effect of time of planting and growth regulators on flowering and vase life of gerbera. Four varieties, namely , Eoliet, Presley, Pritty and Sunbird and five treatments, viz., GA 50 ppm, GA 100 ppm, CCC 500 ppm, CCC 750 ppm and control, were tried. Varieties were found to have significant influence on both vegetative as well as the floral characters whereas the treatments did not have any significant effect on vegetative characters of the Gerbera cultivars in general, when evaluated in the first season. In the second season both varietal and treatment effects were not consistent. Variety Presley was found to be early flowering while Eoliet was late flowering. GA 50 ppm and GA 100 ppm hastened flowering whereas CCC 500 ppm and CCC 750 ppm delayed it. In general the longevity of flowers was maximum in varieties Eoliet and Sunbird. Variety Presley had the least longevity. Among the treatments, CCC 750 ppm and GA 50 ppm increased the longevity of flowers in field. Maximum number of blooms was produce by Presley and the minimum by Eoliet. In general GA 100 ppm and CCC 750 ppm increased the number of blooms. In general CCC 750 ppm, GA 50 ppm and GA 100 ppm had a significant positive influence on flower diameter. In general variety sunbird had the maximum stalk length and diameter, while Pritty produced the shorest stalks. CCC 500 ppm and CCC 750 ppm had the best effect on stalk length. Vase life was found to be significantly increased by GA 100 ppm and CCC 750 ppm treatments given to the plants. Five per cent sucrose + 20 ppm AgNO3 significantly increased the longevity of flowers in vase. Planting in June was found to be better than October planting with respect to vegetative as well as floral characters, especially for number of flowers and flower diameter. Among the varieties, with respect to growth and number of flowers, Presley was found to be superior. In the correlation studies flower number was found to have positive and highly significant correlation with plant height and leaf area whereas flower diameter had significant negative correlation with leaf area and stalk length. Petiole length, stalk diameter and leaf number had positive correlation with this character. Vase life had significantly positive correlation with fresh weight of flowers.ThesisItem Open Access Response of Gladiolus to Rapid Cloning Through in Vitro Techniques(Department of pomology and floriculture, College of horticulture,Vellanikkara, 1995) Sakkeer Hussain, C T; KAU; Geetha, C KInvestigations were carried out to study the response of gladiolus to rapid cloning through in vitro techniques at the Department of Pomology and Floriculture and Plant Tissue Culture Laboratory of All India Co-ordinated Floriculture Improvement Project, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, during 1992-94. The main objective was to identify the most suitable explant and media combination for in vitro cloning. The explants used were corm axillary buds, cormel tips, inflorescence nodal segments (for enhanced release of axillary buds), inflorescence internodal segments, flower buds, flower bud bracts, root segments (for somatic organogenesis) and leaf segments (for somatic embryogenesis). The best season for the collection of corm axillary buds and cormel tips was from September to May. Surface sterilization of the explants could be effectively done with 0.1 or o.2 per cent mercuric chloride and the duration of treatment varied from I to25 minutes. Culture establishment of the corm axillary bud, cormel tip explants were better in MS medium supplemented with BAP ranging from 1.0 mg 1 -1 to 4.0 mg 1-1. The concentration of BAP required varied according to the stage of development of corms and cormels. Higher levels of BAP was ideal during early stages of development of corm and cormels. Of the different media (White’s, SH and MS) tried, MS medium was found to be the best culture establishment (Stage 1) when supplemented with 3.0 mg 1-1 BAP. Elongated shoots of Stage I were subjected to shoot proliferation (Stage 2). Multiple axillary bud production was very high when the MS medium was supplemented with BAP 1.0 mg 1-1 and NAA 0.5 mg 1-1 or BAP 2.0 mg 1-1 and NAA 0.5 mg 1-1. Callus production from the base of the elongated shoots were observed when the concentration of NAA increased in the medium. Of the different cytokinins (BAP, kinetin and 2ip) tried, BAP was found to be the best in Stage 2. Frequent subculturing onto the MS medium containing BAP 2.0 mg 1-1 and NAA 0.5 mg 1-1 increased the production of multiple axillary buds. These when transferred to the MS medium devoid of growth regulators resulted in elongation of shoots. The elongated shoots produced maximum number of roots in the MS medium containing 1.0 mg 1-1 IBA under the exclusion of light. However, early rooting was obtained in MS liquid medium devoid of growth regulators. Plantlet survival was maximum when treated with 0.2 per cent Bavistin immediately after removing from the culture vessels, followed by treatment with 0.2 per cent mancozeb and norfloxacin at the time of transplanting and post planting treatment with 1/10 MS solution and drenching with triadimefon 20.0 mg 1-1 at three days interval inside improvised mist chamber. Direct organogenesis could be obtained from immature inflorescence segments in modified MS medium supplemented with 15.0 mg 1-1 NAA and 3.0 mg 1-1 BAP. Among the various explants tried for callus mediated organogenesis, callus index was the maximum (400) when immature inflorescence segments were inoculated to the modified MS medium supplemented with NAA 15.0 mg 1-1 in 16 h photoperiod and also in the medium supplemented with 15.0 mg 1-1 NAA + 2.0 mg 1-1 BAP and kept under exclusion of light. The callus derived from inflorescence segments differentiated into shoots in the MS medium supplemented with 3.0 mg 1-1 BAP and also in the medium supplemented with 1.0 mg 1-1 BAP and 0.5 mg 1-1 NAA. Callus also could be obtained from flower buds and flower bud bracts. The callus derived from the corm axillary buds and cormel tip explants in Stage 2, differentiated in the basal MS medium devoid of growth regulators or supplemented with 20.0 ml 1-1 coconut water and also in the medium with 0.5 mg 1-1 BAP. The root segments (both in vitro and in vivo) produced callus in MS medium supplemented with 1.0 mg 1-1 NAA and the differentiation was obtained in the medium containing 3.0 mg 1-1 BAP an 1.0mg 1-1 NAA. Leaf segments failed to develop callus. However, the explants collected from the leaf covering the inflorescence boot leaf) when cultured in modified MS medium supplemented with 15.0 mg 1-1 NAA and 1.0 mg 1-1 BAP and incubated under darkness for three months developed somatic embryos. In vitro corm production was noticed in the cultures, if planting out was delayed. Earliest and large sized corm induction was made possible in elongated shoots of gladiolus from Stage 2 in Ms medium containing 5.0 per cent sucrose, 0.5 mg 1-1 NAA and 5.0 mg 1-1 triadimefon kept under etiolated condition. The size of the in vitro produced corms enlarged from 0.2 cm to 2.3 cm in the MS liquid medium containing 5.0 per cent sucrose and 3.0 mg 1-1 triadimefon.ThesisItem Open Access Floral biology and compatibility in gladiolus(Department Of Pomology And Floriculture,College Of Horticulture,Vellanikkara, 1999) Jisha, V; KAU; Suma, AThe 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.ThesisItem Open 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 GeorgeThe 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.ThesisItem Open Access Micropropagation of phalaenopsis(Department of Pomology and Floriculture, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 1996) Jyothi, Bhaskar; KAU; Rajeevan, P KInvestigations were carried out at the Plant Tissue Culture Laboratory attached to the All India Co-ordinated Floriculture Improvement Project (AICFIP), College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, during 1993-96 to standardise the micropropagation technique in Phalaenopsis. Out of the different explants tried, response was shown by inflorescene stalk node, inflorescence stalk tip and pollinia collected from the field grown plants and apical bud, shoot node, basal portion, leaf and root of plantlets grown in vitro. Maximum survival (40%) of nodal explants was recorded at the sterilant combination involving mercuric chloride (0.01%) for 30 min., streptomycin + pencillin (0.01%) for 90min., followed by final sterilization using mercuric chloride (0.10%) for 10 min. For flower bud, the combination involving emisan (1.00%) for 30 min. followed by alcohol (50%) for 1 min. recorded the maximum survival percentage (55). The ½ MS liquid medium containing BA 5 ppm+ NAA 2ppm + 2, 4-D ppm + CW 15 percent recorded the minimum number of days for nodal swelling and bud development (6 and 14 days, respectively). Basal portion was found to be the best explants with respect to rate of increase in shoot number (8.00) and leaf number (7.67), followed by shoot node. The latter recorded the highest root number (7.67) at the end of 12 weeks of culturing. As to the position of explant, highest increase in the length of the buds was recorded for first node, followed by second, third and fourth. Full strength MS and KC media were far inferior to ¼ MS, ½ MS, ¾ MS and VW media, for culturing. Maximum number of shoots (5.00) and leaves (7.67) were recorded for ¼ ms AND ½ ms media after 8 weeks of culturing. Physical state of the medium, viz. liquid and semi –solid did not show any significant difference. Sucrose at 1.5 percent level recorded the maximum number of shoots and leaves after 8 weeks of culturing. Thiamine – HCL increased the shoot and leaf number at 20ppm level at the end of 8 weeks, whereas the presence did not favour the production of roots. The time taken for callusing in pollinia was minimum (2.0 days) at BA 5 ppm + NAA 2 ppm + 2, 4-D 2ppm in ½ MS medium containing 3 percent sucrose. When 90 day old pod was used, protocorm formation was observed in ½ MS medium containing BA 10ppm + NAA 1 ppm and KIN 5 ppm +2, 4-D 2ppm. When the effect of NAA was considered root production was increased at the combination NAA 5 ppm + BA 10ppm + adenine 10 ppm. With regard to the effect of BA, that at 25ppm in combination with adenine 10 ppm + NAA 1 ppm recorded maximum number of shoots and leaves. Shoot and leaf number was maximum at ¼ MS medium containing BA 20 ppm+ 2, 4-D 2.5ppm, whereas root production was maximum at BA 20ppm + 2, 4-D 5 ppm. As to the combined effect of BA, NAA and 2,4-D in ¼ MS medium, the combination BA 5ppm + NAA 2 ppm + 2,4-D 2 ppm recorded the maximum number of shoots and leaves. Different levels of KIN, was found to have no significant influence on the production of shoots, leaves and roots. When the combined effect f KIN, NAA and 2, 4-D was considered ¼ MS medium containing KIN 20ppm + NAA 2 ppm + 2, 4-D 2 ppm recorded maximum number of shoots and leaves. The apical bud did not show any multiple shoot production during the 12 weeks culture period as influenced by coconut water, whereas first node at CW 10 percent, shoot node at CW 10 per cent, shoot node at CW 15 percent, and basal portion at CW 25 percent recorded the highest number of shoots.Maximum number of leaves was produced by apical bud at CW 20 percent , first node and shoot node at CW 10 percent, and basal portion at CW 25 percent. Both tender and mature coconut water were equally effective. Fresh and upto 6 days old coconut water could also be used with similar effect. Peptone at 1000 ppm was found to influence favourably the induction of multiple shoots from in vitro shoots. Culturing the nodal explants in liquid media with filter paper bridge or keeping in the dark were found to reduce phenolic blackening. With the increase in the concentration of antioxidants, there was a proportionate reduction in media discolouration. Activated charcoal and triadimefon added in the media were found to influence the root production from shoots. Length of the root was maximum at triadimefon 20 ppm. Sucrose at 1.5 percent level recorded the minimum number of days for PLB development and the maximum number of PLB’s developed. Thiamine – HCL, coconut water, tomato juice and peptone did not significantly influence the time taken for PLB formation, but favoured the number of PLB’s developed. With regard to PLB formation from shoot node, ½ MS medium containing BA 5 ppm + NAA 2 ppm + 2, 4-D 2 ppm recorded the minimum number of days for PLB development and maximum number of PLB’s. When PLB formation from in vitro leaf was considered, cent percent of the leaf cultures developed PLB’s at the combination BA 25 ppm + adenine 10 ppm + NAA 1 ppm and the time taken for PLB formation was minimum. Cent percent of the cultures developed PLB’s from in vitro roots at BA 25 ppm + adenine 10 ppm + NAA 1 ppm and the time taken for PLB formation was minimum. Further growth of PLB’s and Plantlet development was the best in ¼ MS medium containing BA 15 ppm +NAA 1 ppm followed by adenine 8 ppm + BA 16 ppm. Regarding the effect of coconut water, PLB growth at CW 15 percent and plantlet development at CW 25 percent recorded the best results. Light favoured plantlet development, multiple shoot formation and PLB formation from shoot node and in vitro root, whereas dark period favoured early development of PLB’s from in vitro root, whereas dark period favoured early development of PLB’s from in vitro leaf, callusing and PLB proliferation. Healthy, large and robust plants were produced when plantlets were grown in 250 ml conical flask, followed by large test tubes. When the plantlets grown previously in medium triadimefon 20 ppm were hardened by spreading over sterile charcoal pieces for two weeks, planted in coconut husk and were hung in the orchidarium with high humidity, cent percent survival was recorded even after 8 weeks of planting out. The nutrient solution 30:10:10(0.50%) and 17:17:17 (0.10%) recorded the highest survival percentage after 12 weeks of planting out. The growth characters of the plants. Viz., plant height, leaf number, leaf length and width, root number and root length were found to be maximum for the plants sprayed with 17:17:17 at 0.10 percent level. The survival percentage of plants showed a slight decrease with time and all the plant characters increased with time except the number of leaves.
