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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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20191
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Subject: Forest Biology and Tree Improvement × End date: 2019 × Start date: 2019 × Type: Thesis × Thesis Type: M.Sc ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Morphological and biochemical diversity assessment of Garcinia indica(Thouars) choisy germplasm
    (Department of Forest Biology and Tree Improvement, College of Forestry,Vellanikkara, 2019) Raveena Kapatia, KAU; Santhoshkumar, A V
    A study on ^Morphological and biochemical diversity assessment of Garcinia indica (Thouars) Choisy germplasm' was conducted to find out variations in G. indica germplasm maintained at NBPGR Regional station, Thrissur. The study attempted to evaluate variability in general tree characters, flower, fhiit, biochemical characters and physio-chemical properties of butter. It was observed that large variability was present in morphometric characters like height, GBH and height of first branch, whereas characters like canopy shape and branching habit did not show much variations. In comparison to the general tree characters, leaf and flower characters showed less variability. Among all the leaf characters studied, petiole length showed largest variation (CV=20.2 percent). In case of flower characters, maximum variability was observed in pedicel length. Variability was also observed in the timing of flowering, which ranged from October to January. Variability study on fruit characters like fruit weight, rind weight and number of fruits showed significant variations. Yield ranged from 220 to 1050 fruits per tree. Fruit colour did not show much variations, mainly being dark purple and red. Primary metabolites like carbohydrates, proteins and crude fat showed considerable variability, while it was observed to be comparatively low in TSS and reducing sugar. Variability was also observed in secondary metabolites like phenols (CV = 29.1 percent) and ilavanoids (CV = 17.9 percent). It was observed that Hydroxy citric acid was present in large quantity in fruit rind, average being 36.5 g/IOOg. The variability study on minerals like Ca, Na, Mg, K and P revealed that K was present in the largest quantity, followed by Mg. Maximum variability was observed in P content (CV=24.4 percent) while minimum in K content (CV =9.5 percent). The average vitamin C content was estimated to be 37.17 mg/lOOg and CV being 27.6 percent. Variabilit>' study on physio- chemical properties of kokum butter showed that on an average 30.55 percent of butter (CV=12 percent) was obtained from the seeds. Less variability was present in the melting and pour point of butter. Chemical properties of butter like saponification value, acid value and iodine value also showed less variability.