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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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20201
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Subject: Fruit Science × Author: Akhil, P × Author: KAU × Start date: 2015 × Type: Thesis × Thesis Type: M.Sc ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Evaluation of promising accession of papaya (Carica papaya L.) cultivation in north Kerala
    (Department of Fruit Science, College of Agriculture, Padannakkad, 2020) Akhil, P; KAU; Satheeshan, K N
    Papaya (Carica papaya L.), is an important fruit crop cultivated in the tropical and subtropical regions due to its versatile uses, high palatability, nutritional and health benefits. Even though India is a major producer of papaya in the world, in Kerala, it is yet to assume the status of a commercial fruit crop. Lack of availability of varieties/types adapted to climatic conditions in Kerala and dependency on private breeders for seeds are the challenges for its commercial cultivation. However, there is a growing interest among farmer’s in Kerala to take up its cultivation in an orchard scale recently due to its ease of growing and economic potential. In this context, the present investigation on evaluation of selected papaya cultivars/types/varieties is proposed with an objective to find out genotypes suitable for cultivation in Northern zone of Kerala. The study entitled “Evaluation of promising accessions of papaya (Carica papaya L.) for cultivation in North Kerala” was conducted at the Department of Pomology and Floriculture, College of Agriculture, Padannakkad, Kasaragod and Regional Agricultural Research Station, Pilicode during the period from 2017 to 2019. The experiment was laid out in RBD with 12 treatments and 3 replication. The treatments included six promising papaya genotypes selected from the Kasaragod district, one accession already found to be promising from the KAU main campus, Vellanikkara., four released varieties namely Pusa Nanha, Arka Prabhath, CO-8, CO-2 and Red lady (F1 hybrid) from private breeder company. Among the accessions/varieties, Pusa Nanha (1.70 m), Acc. 6 (1.84 m) and Red lady (1.88 m) were shorter in terms of plant height. Flowering and fruiting occurred at the lowest height in Pusa Nanha followed by Acc. 6, which is a positive character for easy harvesting of fruits. Maximum fruit weight was recorded in PusaNanha(1866.67g), Acc.5 (1766.67g), Acc. 4 (1346.67 g). Highest number of fruits was recorded in KAU Acc. 1 (20.67), Acc.6 (20.27) and Acc.4 (19.40). Fruit yield per plant was highest in Acc.5 (26.93kg), Acc.4 (26.23kg) and Acc.6 (23.50kg), PusaNanha (22.47kg). Shelf life of fruits at ambient conditions was maximum in Acc.6(8.70) which was on par with Acc.2 (8.53) and Arka Prabhath (8.23). Among the 12 papaya accessions/varieties evaluated for organoleptic analysis, the most preferred taste and overall acceptance was recorded by Acc.6 followed by Red lady. When value added to papaya jam, best taste, flavour and overall acceptance was recorded in Red lady followed by Acc. 6. Biochemical analysis revealed that the highest fibre content was observed in Acc.6 (1.27%) followed by CO 8 (1.19) and Acc.2 (1.11%) which were on par with Acc.6. The maximum per cent of reducing sugar was recorded by Red lady (9.46 %) which was on par with CO 8 (9.45 %), Acc. 2 (9.39 %), KAU Acc. 1 (9.32%), Acc. 6 (9.32 %) and Arka Prabhath (9.13 %). Total sugar content was maximum in Red lady (10.12 %) which was on par with Acc.6 (10.10%), CO 8 (9.95%), Arka Prabhath (9.75%) and KAU Acc. 1 (9.71%). The highest carotenoid content was observed in CO 8 (3.18 mg/ 100g) which was on par with Arka Prabhath (3.14 mg/ 100g) followed by Acc. 6 (2.87 mg/100g) and Red lady (2.50 mg/100g). The lycopene content was maximum in CO 8 (1.72 mg/ 100g)which was on par with Red lady(1.62 mg/ 100g) followed by Arka Prabhath (1.36mg/ 100g), and Acc. 6 (1.12 mg/ 100g) which were on par. Highest ascorbic acid content was observed in Acc.4 (93.37 mg/ 100g). In this study, six accessions, five varieties and one promising accession reported earlier from the main campus, Vellanikkara, KAU were evaluated and the study revealed that Acc. 6 (local genotype collected from Kasaragod) as the most promising compared to all other genotypes for higher yield with consumer preference for cultivation in North Kerala. This accession was found to be better with respect to short stature (1.84 m), number of fruits (20.27), yield (23.50 kg) , Organoleptic test (Score-8.52) and good shelf life (8.70 days) and nutritional qualities such as high fibre content, carotenoid content and lycopene content.