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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: Genetics and Plant Breeding × Author: KAU × Author: Ninitha Nath, C × End date: 2003 × Start date: 2003 ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Compatibility studies in monopodial orchids
    (Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 2003) Ninitha Nath, C; KAU; Lekha Rani C
    A research programme "Compatibility studies In monopodia! orchids" was carried out in the Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, College of Agriculture, Vellayani during 2001-2003 with the objective of undertaking intra and intergeneric hybridization and in vitro embryo culture in monopodial orchids. Twelve monopodial orchid genotypes comprising of six mono generic and six bigeneric hybrids were selected as parents after initial evaluation. They were evaluated adopting completely randomized design with six replications. Analysis of variance revealed significant differences for almost all the characters studied. Genotypic and phenotypic coefficients of variation were high for number of aerial roots, leaf area and width of leaf. Characters like number of aerial roots, width of leaf, leaf area and number of flowers per inflorescence had high heritability coupled with high genetic advance. Significant positive inter-correlation at genotypic and phenotypic levels was observed for length of flow'er and width of flower with number of leaves per cane, number of aerial roots, number of spikes per cane, length of inflorescence and length of scape. The 12 parental genotypes were crossed in all possible combinations (144) after preliminary studies on floral biology. A total of 116 crosses were done including 50 crosses, 54 reciprocals and 12 selfs. Incompatibility reaction was noticed at different stages ranging from flower abscission before the onset of any visible post pollination change to instances where seeds geminated but aborted in culture. A total of 58 combinations attempted succumbed to incompatibility at these different stages from pollination to deflasking. Harvestable green capsules were obtained from 58 combinations and they were inoculated in MS half strength basal medium. Percentage capsule yield ranged from 8 to 38 in the various hybrid combinations. Percentage filled seeds ranged from 18 to 76 in the various combinations. Capsules from twelve combinations did not contain seeds and seeds from ten combinations did not germinate on inoculation. Protocorms of developing seedlings from twelve combinations aborted at various stages of in vitro development. The remaining 24 cross combinations were taken through three to four subculture passages. Seedlings having 2-3 leaves and 2-4 roots were deflasked. Significant differences among the combinations were observed with respect to number of days taken for germination initiation, number of days taken for development of protocorms, chlorophyll, first leaf and first root primordia and for deflasking. Significant differences in seedling morphology were observed among the 24 hybrid combinations at deflasking with respect to all the seven vegetative characters studied.