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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: Forestry × Author: KAU × Author: Roshini, A J × End date: 2003 × Start date: 2003 ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Micropropagation and evaluation of azadirachtin production in the plantlets of neem (Azadirachta indica A. Juss)
    (Department of tree physiology and breeding, College of Forestry, Vellanikkara, 2003) Roshini, A J; KAU; Vijayakumar, N K
    The study under the title "Micropropagation and evaluation of azadirachtin production in the plantlets of neem (Azadirachta indica A. Juss.)", was carried out at the Tissue Culture Laboratory of College of Forestry and Biochemistry laboratory, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara during the period 2000-2002. The objective of the programme was to standardize the micropropagation protocol and also to evaluate the secondary metabolite production potential of in vitro produced plantlets and callus in neem (Azadirachta indica A. Juss.). Culture contamination mainly due to fungus was prominent in the rainy season. To get contamination free cultures, dipping of explants in a fungicidal mixture of 0.1 per cent each of Bavistin (Carbendazim) and Indofil M-45 (Mancozeb) for 30 min and their sterilization with mercuric chloride (0.10%) for 15 min was found effective in controlling the contamination. Larger sized explants (2.00 cm long) with significantly low culture contamination was found to be better than 1.00 cm long explants. Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium was found to be better than WPM for culture establishment and growth individual supplementation of Kn to MS medium was found more effective than BA. MS medium supplemented with 1.5 mg r' BA + 0.5 mg r' NAA was found to be the best media for shoot proliferation. Maximuni in vitro rooting (93.33%) of micro shoots was obtained on ~ MS + 1.5 mg r' IAA. Vermiculite and vermiculite + sand (1:1) were found to be the best media for hardening of in vitro raised plantlets. The auxins evaluated for stimulating callus production were, IAA, IBA and 2,4-D among them IAA was the most potent in callusing followed by 2,4-D. The combination of 1.5 mg r' 2,4-D + 1.5 mg r' IAA and 1.5 mg r' 2,4-D + 1.5 mg r' IBA produced maximum callus. Azadirachtin content was estimated by using TLC and colorimetry techniques. In the case of TLC for eluting azadirachtin into a single condensed spot, the running solvent system comprising of methanol: water (30:70) was found to be the best. One per cent vanillin in concentrated sulphuric acid was used as a spray reagent to detect the azadirachtin on TLC plates. Amount of azadirachtin varied depending on the plant part used which was estimated at various growth stages and different concentration of growth regulators supplemented to the medium. It ranged from 0.11 to 6.81 ug g" in in vitro plants sample and 9.42 to 12.45 ug g-I in leaves of in vivo plants. Both these methods can be followed for the preliminary estimation of azadirachtin.