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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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20202
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Subject: Forest Biology and Tree Improvement × Author: KAU × End date: 2022 × Start date: 2020 × Type: Thesis × Thesis Type: Ph.D ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Genetic diversity and domestication of Pyrenacantha volubilis Wight, an anti cancer drug yielding plant
    (Department of Forest Biology and Tree Improvement, College of Forestry, Vellanikkara, 2020) Arjun Ramachandran; KAU; Santhoshkumar, A V
    The present study titled “Genetic diversity and domestication of Pyrenacantha volubilis Wight: an anti-cancer drug yielding plant” was carried out from 2017 to 2020 with the objectives of exploring the genetic diversity in fragmented natural populations of P. volubilis, analyzing camptothecin and its major derivatives isolated from P. volubilis for druggability against major oncoproteins, identifying elite lianas through a progeny trial and propagating the plant vegetatively. UPGMA classified the 12 natural populations of P. volubilis into seven distinct classes based on the amplicon profiles of the 12 ISSR primers considered for the study. There is high genetic diversity among populations of P. volubilis, the full potential of which must be tapped for domestication. The binding energy computed for interactions of camptothecinoids with oncoproteins and Topo I were unstable because camptothecinoids act on the ‘cleavable complex’. 20 three-year-old lianas (PV01 to PV20) superior for vegetative and reproductive growth traits were screened by progeny evaluation. CPT accumulation in vegetative parts was in trace amounts for all the nine progenies tested in this experiment. The maximum harvest weight of seeds per plant was for progeny PV10-01 (4.57g). The concentration of camptothecin (2.12%) coupled with prolific seed bearing (9 seeds per plant) after the first year itself makes PV10-01 superior to all other progenies for overall camptothecin yield. Results of the progeny trial indicate that mother plants PV01, PV02, PV06, PV08 and PV10 may be considered for higher economic gains. Four to eight noded stem cuttings (softwood, semi-hardwood, hardwood) were treated with IBA (0, 2000, 4000, 6000, 8000 and 10000mgL-1) and laid out in a 3×6 Factorial CRD in a semi-automatic mist chamber to standardize vegetative propagation. Hardwood cuttings treated with 2000mgL-1 (83.33%) and 4000mgL-1 (75.56%) IBA and softwood cuttings treated with 4000mgL-1 (60.12%) IBA were superior for rooting percentage.
  • Thumbnail Image
    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Genetic diversity and domestication of Pyrenacantha volubilis Wight, an anti cancer drug yielding plant
    (Department of Forest Biology and Tree Improvement, College of Forestry, Vellanikkara, 2020) Arjun Ramachandran; KAU; Santhoshkumar, A V
    The present study titled “Genetic diversity and domestication of Pyrenacantha volubilis Wight: an anti-cancer drug yielding plant” was carried out from 2017 to 2020 with the objectives of exploring the genetic diversity in fragmented natural populations of P. volubilis, analyzing camptothecin and its major derivatives isolated from P. volubilis for druggability against major oncoproteins, identifying elite lianas through a progeny trial and propagating the plant vegetatively. UPGMA classified the 12 natural populations of P. volubilis into seven distinct classes based on the amplicon profiles of the 12 ISSR primers considered for the study. There is high genetic diversity among populations of P. volubilis, the full potential of which must be tapped for domestication. The binding energy computed for interactions of camptothecinoids with oncoproteins and Topo I were unstable because camptothecinoids act on the ‘cleavable complex’. 20 three-year-old lianas (PV01 to PV20) superior for vegetative and reproductive growth traits were screened by progeny evaluation. CPT accumulation in vegetative parts was in trace amounts for all the nine progenies tested in this experiment. The maximum harvest weight of seeds per plant was for progeny PV10-01 (4.57g). The concentration of camptothecin (2.12%) coupled with prolific seed bearing (9 seeds per plant) after the first year itself makes PV10-01 superior to all other progenies for overall camptothecin yield. Results of the progeny trial indicate that mother plants PV01, PV02, PV06, PV08 and PV10 may be considered for higher economic gains. Four to eight noded stem cuttings (softwood, semi-hardwood, hardwood) were treated with IBA (0, 2000, 4000, 6000, 8000 and 10000mgL-1) and laid out in a 3×6 Factorial CRD in a semi-automatic mist chamber to standardize vegetative propagation. Hardwood cuttings treated with 2000mgL-1 (83.33%) and 4000mgL-1 (75.56%) IBA and softwood cuttings treated with 4000mgL-1 (60.12%) IBA were superior for rooting percentage.