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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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1961 - 196911990 - 19965
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Subject: Genetics and Plant Breeding × Author: KAU × End date: 1996 × Thesis Type: M.Sc ×
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Now showing 1 - 6 of 6
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Combining ability in bhindi (Abelmoschus esculentus (L) Moench)
    (Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 1995) Rajani, B; KAU; Manju, P
    The study was carried out in the Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, College of Agriculture , Vellayani during 1994-95 to estimate the combining ability of six genetically divergent parental strains of bhindi and their 30 F1 hybrids obtained by crossing the six parents in a diallel pattern. The magnitude of heterosis and nature of gene action governing the yield of fruits and other important yield attributes was also elicited through Hayman's numerical and graphical approach. The combinig ability analysis by the Method 1 of Griffing's (1956) approach revealed that the parent P4 (NBPGR/TCR 864) was the best general combiner for yield and a few yield related characters. Among the hybrids P1 X P4 (NBPGR/TCR 893 x NBPGR/TCR 864) exhibited outstanding s.c.a effects for yield. Non addictive gene action was found to govern days to first flowering number of flowers per plant, length of fruit, girth of fruit, weight of single fruit, weight of fruits per plant and number of seeds per fruit while the remaining characters were governed by addictive gene action.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Studies on seed dormancy in rice (Oryza sativa. L.) with special reference to short duration varieties
    (Faculty of Plant Breeding and Genetics, Agriculture College & Research Institute, Coimbatore, 1961) Gopinathan Nair, V; KAU; Ponnaiya, B W X
    Work done in cereals and other crop plants on the factors related to seed dormancy (causes, tissues involved, stage of maturity at harvest, variation in period and genetics), which are important from a practical breeding point of view, has been critically reviewed with special reference to rice. Studies were undertaken on six short duration varieties of rice and their hybrids to estimate the period of dormancy, to understand the relative roles of the hull and the embryo and also to understand the mode of inheritance of the character. A new method was adopted in the estimation of dormancy. The period required for germination from flowering, determined by germination tests at periodic intervals, rendered a reliable estimate of inter and intravarietal variability for germination and formed the criterion for comparison of varieties and hybrids.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Biometric analysis of yield and other attributes in coleus
    (Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 1996) Prakash, K M; KAU; Pushkaran, K
    Studies were undertaken with thirty genotypes of coleus in the Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara during 1995-96 to estimate the extent of genetic variability, association among the selected characters and its partition into direct and indirect effects through path coefficient analysis under open as well as shaded conditions. The results have shown that the differences between the types were highly significant for most of the characters in the open condition and for all the characters in shaded condition. Low heritability and low genetic advance were shown for most of the economically important tuber characters in the open while the heritability and genetic advance were much greater in the shaded for the economically important characters. Expected genetic advance has shown that by selecting five per cent superior plants from available population, tuber yield could be increased by 52 g per plant in the shaded condition. Correlation studies have indicated that shoot characters like shoot length, number of leaves per plant and leaf area per plant and tuber characteristics like number of tubers per plant, tuber girth and tuber length are highly correlated with yield under open condition. However under shaded condition all the shoot characters are negatively correlated and all the tuber characters like number, length, girth and individual weight are to be given emphasis for identifying a high yielding genotype because of their high positive genotypic correlation with tuber yield. Path analysis projects that greater emphasis has to be laid for improving girth of tuber, number of tubers per plant individual tuber weight and tuber length in the open condition in selection while number of tubers, individual tuber weight and tuber girth should be given emphasis when selection is done for tuber yield in shade grown coleus.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Evaluation of morpho-anatomical variation in ocimum spp.
    (Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 1996) Lisymol J Vadukkoot; KAU; Presannakumari, K T
    A comparative evaluation of the morphological and antomical features the protein pattern of the four different species of Ocimum viz., O. Tenuiflorum, O. Gratissimum, O. Basilicum and O. Canum was carried out in the Department of Plant Brreding and Genetics during 1994-95 to find out the evolutionary ralationships existing among the species and to prepare a key for their identification. Ample variability was observed among the four species of Ocimum for morphological and anatomical features as well as biochemical aspects. Based on these observations a key for identification of the species is proposed. From the morphological and anatomical observations made during the study it appears that O. Gratissimum and O. Tenuiflorum are phylogenetically related and so also O. Basilicum and O. Canum. The protein banding pattern of the four species further confirms this view. From the herbaceous nature, presence of pitted xylem vessel elements and vessels which are circular in Transverse Section it seems that O. Basilicum and O. Canum are more evolved than O. Tenuiflorum and O. Gratissimum.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Gene action and combining ability in grain cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp) in relation to aphid borne mosaic virus resistance
    (Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 1995) Smitha, S; KAU; Kamalam, N
    Two lines, five testers and ten hybrids of cowpea were evaluated in the Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, College of Agriculture, Vellayani during 94-95, with the objective of estimating the combining ability of parents and gene action involved in the inheritance of different yield attributes and CAMV resistance. The lines and testers were selected based on their previous performances and crossed in line x tester manner to get ten hybrids. Observations were made on ten characters, of which nine characters showed significant difference among the 17 treatments. It was seen that nonadditive gene action was predominated for the inheritance of number of pods/plant, number of seeds/pod, 100 - seed weight and seed yield/plant and aphid borne mosaic resistance and additive gene action for days to flowering, days to maturity and number of branches/plant. The varieties Pournami, V - 317, V - 276 and Charodi were the best general combiners and the cross combinations V - 317 x CO4 and V-276 x Pournami were the best specific combinations for yield and CAMV resistance. Hence they can be utilized for further crop improvement programme.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Genetic analysis of productivity and quality parameters in ricebean (Vigna umbellata [Thunb] Ohwi & Ohashi)
    (Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 1995) Suresh Kumar, N S; KAU; Nair, N R
    A study on the variability, correlation and path coefficient analysis was undertaken in 21 varieties of ricebean along with the cooking qualities. The study was conducted at the Department of Plant Breeding, College of Agriculture, Vellayani during kharif 1993. The varieties showed significant difference in all the characters studied except number of primary branches, pods/plant and seeds/pod. Genotypic coefficient of variation was maximum for haulm yield and minimum for days to maturity. At genotypic level grain yield per plant showed positive correlation with plant height, number of primary branches, pods/plant, seeds/pod, days to maturity, nodule weight and protein content. High heritability estimates were observed of 100 seed weight, protein content, root weight and haulm yield. High genetic advance with high heritability was observed for haulm yield, root weight and protein content indicating the presence of additive gene action. Path coefficient analysis indicated that number of primary branches, pods/plant, days to maturity, nodule weight and protein content exerted positive direct effect on seed yield. Cooking quality studies showed that optimum cooking time ranged between 40-70mts, water uptake ranged between 0.79 g/g to 1.2 g/g and volume of extraction ranged between 58.33% to 68.42%. Organoleptic studies revealed that the variety 23Lg is the most acceptable. The study indicated that the model for selection for ricebean varieties should be one with more number of primary branches and pods per plant, more number of days to maturity, high nodule weight and protein content.