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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Evaluation of foliage plants for interior plantscaping
(Department of Pomology and Floriculture, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 2012) Alex, R; KAU; Sudhadevi, P K
Studies were undertaken in Department of Pomology and Floriculture, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara during 2010-2012 to evaluate the foliage plants for interior plantscaping. The study comprised of four experiments in which fifty foliage plant species were selected for evaluation under two growing structures having two different systems viz., open ventilated and fan and pad. Air Pollution Tolerance Index of all the selected species of foliage plants were computed and based on that, ten species was selected and their performance under different indoor light conditions was studied. The air borne microbes and dust filtering efficiency of these ten indoor foliage plant species were also evaluated. When the growing structures, viz., open ventilated & fan and pad greenhouses were compared, the plants kept in fan and pad system were found to be superior than the plants kept in open ventilated greenhouse with regard to most of the characters. So the fan and pad system could be considered as the best for growing the foliage plants. But precautions should be taken to check the humidity levels. Fifty selected species of foliage plants were classified into six categories namely rosette, tree-like, flowering, upright, grass-like and climbing and trailing based on their growth habit. Among the rosette type, Anthurium crystallinum, Calathea zebrina, Philodendron wendlandii and Homalomena wallisii could be recommended for their compactness. Chrysalidocarpus lutescens, Codiaeum variegatum ‘Punctatum aureum’, Ficus benjamina, Licuala grandis, Rhapis excelsa and Schefflera arboricola could be recommended among the tree-like species which could be utilized to decorate bigger indoor places. In flowering foliage plants, Anthurium andreanum ‘Bonina’, Spathiphyllum wallisii and Kalanchoe blossfeldiana could be recommended for any indoor conditions as they would improve the interior environment with their attractive flowers as well as foliages. Aglaonema pseudobracteatum, Dieffenbachia amoena, Sansevieria trifasciata ‘Laurentii’, Dracaena ‘Purple Compacta’, Peperomia obtusifolia ‘Sensation’ and Zamioculcas zamiifolia could be recommended in upright foliage plants. Among grass-like species, Cyperus alternifolius, Chlorophytum ‘Charlotte’ and Ophiopogon jaburan ‘Variegata’ were found to be good and recommended to place them in groupings. Among climbing and trailing plants, Scindapsus aureus, Syngonium podophyllum, Philodendron ‘Ceylon Gold’ and Philodendron elegans were found best and recommended for places like staircase, balcony etc. The Air Pollution Tolerance Index (APTI) of the foliage plant species under the study was computed for three different seasons, viz., March-April, June-July and October- November and based on this they were categorized into sensitive, intermediately tolerant, moderately tolerant and tolerant. It was observed that Anthurium andreanum ‘Bonina’, Calathea zebrina and Dracaena ‘Purple Compacta’ had the highest APTI value and was tolerant to air pollution irrespective of the seasons. In all the seasons, Aglaonema pseudobracteatum, Kalanchoe blossfeldiana, Sansevieria trifasciata ‘Hahnii’, Spathiphyllum wallisii, Syngonium podophyllum, Tradescantia spathacea ‘Sitara’ and Zamioculcas zamiifolia were found to be the most susceptible and they could be recommended to be used as indicator plants for pollution. Other species could also be utilized based on their tolerance levels with respect to the seasons. Based on the APTI value, ten species were selected (two from each category) and their performance was studied under five different indoor light conditions viz., low (<800 lux), medium (800-2000 lux), high (>2000 lux), supplementary (800-2000 lux) and supplementary light with air condition. From the results, it was found that most the foliage plants could thrive well under medium light condition. In addition with that, under air conditioned zone with supplementary light, species like Anthurium andreanum ‘Bonina’, Philodendron elegans and Syngonium podophyllum could be recommended. Species like Chrysalidocarpus lutescens, Rhapis excelsa and other palms could be recommended for areas with high light intensity. The performance of Scindapsus aureus was found good with regard to almost all the desirable characters in all the light conditions. The foliage plants were found very effective in reducing air borne microbes present in indoor conditions. The maximum amount of reduction (35.43 %) was recorded in the zone with medium light intensity where there were 127 Total colony forming units (Tcfu) without plants, which was reduced to 82 Tcfu when foliage plants were kept under the same zone. Regarding the dust filtering efficiency, the maximum amount of dust (3.57 gm-2) was found to be removed from the atmosphere by Syngonium podophyllum. Based on the amount of dust collected by the species, they could be arranged as Syngonium podophyllum > Philodendron elegans > Ficus benjamina > Philodendron ‘Ceylon Gold’> Anthurium andreanum > Schefflera arboricola > Chrysalidocarpus lutescens > Rhapis excelsa > Spathiphyllum wallisii > Scindapsus aureus.
Open Access
Standardization of organic nutrient regimes for Anthurium (Anthurium andreanum Lind.) cultivars.
(Department of Pomology and Floriculture,College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 2011) Jomy, Jacob; KAU; Sabina George, T
Anthurium andreanum Lind. is cultivated globally for its attractive flowers and foliage. Kerala is identified as one of the most suitable places for growing Anthuriums because of the congenial climatic conditions similar to its natural habitat. For the nutrition of Anthuriums, standardization of eco-friendly organic manures is a felt need of growers. Though several organic nutrient dosages and an integrated nutrient dosage have been found promising for juvenile to mature tissue cultured plants of the Anthurium, these differed in their content of nutrients, constituent organic-inorganic fractions, components and their frequency of application. Refinement of these dosages and formulation of modified organic nutrient regimes consisting of easily available and eco friendly cost effective organic materials were intended in this investigation. Thus, an investigation was conducted at the Department of Pomology and Floriculture, College of Agriculture, Vellayani of the Kerala Agricultural University during 2009-2011 for a period of 18 months. The experiment was in CRD with 12 treatment combinations of 2 cultivars ( Anthurium andreanum cv. Acropolis and cv. Tropical) and 6 nutrient regimes The nutrient supplied under N1 to N4 was 2.15: 1.47: 2.37 N:P2O5:K2O g plant-1 (total per bimonth), and under N5 and N6 was 2.41:4.73:1.89 N:P2O5:K2O g plant-1 (total per bimonth)]. All the treatments were given weekly application of cow dung slurry 0.83 g/ plant. N1 comprised of organic manure mix 12.4 g plant-1 applied weekly (containing coir pith compost, bone meal, neem cake and wood ash) + Cow’s urine 8 ml/plant weekly. Modified organic manure mix 25.96 g plant-1 (containing wood ash, cow dung and bone meal) applied weekly for N2, 51.925 g plant-1 applied biweekly for N3, 103.85 g plant-1 applied monthly for (N4). N5 comprised of organic manure mix 40 g plant-1applied bimonthly (containing leaf compost, coir pith compost, bone meal, neem cake, poultry manure and wood ash) +NPK Fertilizer (18:18:18) @1 g plant-1 weekly. N6 comprised of organic manure mix 40 g plant-1 applied bimonthly (containing leaf compost, coir pith compost, bone meal, neem cake, poultry manure and wood ash) + Organic manure mix (containing cow dung, leaf compost, bone meal, and wood ash ) applied weekly. The first experiment was aimed at standardizing organic nutrient regimes for flower production from top cuttings in Anthurium andreanum cv. Acropolis and cv. Tropical. Vegetative characters such as the total number of newly emerged leaves upto 6, 12 and 18 MAP, annual leaf production, total leaf area at 6, 12 and 18 MAP, mean petiole length at 6, 12 and 18 MAP, mean phyllochron, days from emergence to senescence of leaves, rate of sucker production were found to differ significantly among manurial treatments. A comparative enhancement in vegetative characters such as number of leaves, leaf area, petiole length, annual leaf production and leaf duration, and lesser interval between leaf emergence were observed in plants under N2, N3, N4 and N6. These treatments also recorded greater number of flowers as well as annual flower production per plant, shorter mean interval between flower emergence and lesser days to harvestable maturity of flowers than organic treatment with cows urine weekly (N1) and organic inorganic integrated regime (N5). The manurial treatments of modified organic treatment applied biweekly (N3), monthly (N4) and organic treatment with manure mix bimonthly (N6) increased the length and width of the spathe, greater girth of flower stalk. The vase life of flower were found greater under modified organic treatment weekly (N2), biweekly (N3) and organic treatment with cows urine weekly (N1). Similarly, water uptake was higher in plants treated with modified organic treatment applied biweekly and weekly than under organic inorganic integrated regime. The organic inorganic integrated regime was found to effect in higher N and P content of leaves than all other treatments. Higher K content of leaves was recorded under N3 regime. The second experiment was aimed at standardization of nutrient regime(s) for sucker production and subsequent flower production from basal stem stumps in Anthurium andreanum cv. Acropolis and cv. Tropical. Modified organic treatment applied weekly (N2), biweekly (N3) and monthly (N4) recorded greater total leaf area of shoots from 3 MAP until separation, number and length of roots at separation, total length of suckers and number of leaves at retention and thereafter, lesser interval between leaf emergence and greater longevity of leaves and greater petiole length at 18 MAP, length, number of leaves and mean petiole length of retained suckers at 18 MAP, earlier and greater flower production. Modified organic treatment applied biweekly (N3) also recorded higher total number of suckers and rate of sucker production. Cultivar differences in vegetative and floral characters were found to be distinct in both experiments. In the planted basal stumps of experiment 2, sprouting and sucker development was observed. However, earlier sprouting and development of sprouts into shoots was observed in cv. Tropical than in Acropolis. In Experiment 1, though the treatments N2, N3 and N4 had equal effects on leaf production, total leaf area, flower production and shorter interval between flower emergence, in economic analysis, the treatment expenditure increasing from N4 to N2 can be a limiting factor determining their relative feasibility. The advantages in suckering observed in these cultivars in experiment 2, resulted in greater net value realization of cv. Acropolis under modified organic treatment applied biweekly (N3) and monthly (N4) and in cv. Tropical under modified organic treatment applied biweekly (N3).
Open Access
Micropropagation of phalaenopsis
(Department of Pomology and Floriculture, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 1996) Jyothi, Bhaskar; KAU; Rajeevan, P K
Investigations 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.

Kerala Agricultural University, Thrissur

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