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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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ThesisItem Open Access Standardisation of selection criteria for cocoa hybrids(Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 1998) Raji Varghese; KAU; Pushkaran, KInvestigation on standardisation of selection criteria for cocoa hybrids was conducted at Cadbury-KAU Co-operative cocoa Research Project (CC RP) Farm of Kerala Agricultural University, Vellanikkara during 1994-96. Twenty nine hybrids grown under Progeny Trial I and their 18 parents maintained in CYT-I were used for the study. The influence of seedling height and girth on yield was more pronounced in the case of seedlings one year after sowing than with those of 4 mas, 5 mas and 6 mas. The vegetative vigour measured by the height and diameter of trunk was found to be better correlated with precocity. The correlation coefficients of pod characters viz., length, width and weight of pods, number of beans, wet bean weight and pericarp thickness and seed characters viz., length, width, thickness and dryweight worked out between hybrids and female parents showed significant relationship in the case of pod length (r = 0.649) and number of beans (r = 0.606). But with mid parental value, the hybrids showed high correlation for the characters pod length, pod weight, number of beans, seed length, seed width and seed thickness (0.65, 0.45, 0.86, 0.70, 0.76 and 0.70 respectively). Heritability estimated by regressing offspring on female parent was high for the characters pod width, seed length and seed width (0,7, 0.64 and 0.78 respectively). Among the 29 hybrids studied, the hybrid H-4 of the cross GI 10.3 x GVI 54 was found to be promising in terms of both pod and wet bean yield. With the seedling characters of hybrids taken one year after sowing, a multiple regression equation for wet bean yield was fitted as: Y = 43 + 0.195 x1 + 3.70 X2 Where, x1 and X2 are height and girth of one year old seedlings respectively. This can be taken as a seedling selection criteria for cocoa hybrids.ThesisItem Open Access Genetic analysis of high yielding rice varieties of diverse origin(Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 1998) Vanaja, T; KAU; Luckins, C BabuThe research project 'Genetic Analysis of High Yielding Rice Varieties of Diverse Origin' was carried out in the College of. Horticulture, Kerala Agricultural University, Vellanikkara, Thrissur during the period 1995-'98. The major objectives of the study were to understand the genetic architecture of high yielding rice varieties of diverse origin so as to evolve appropriate breeding methodology, to isolate promising lines having the new ideotype concepts from the segregating generations and to identify alternative source of cytoplasmic male sterile system suitable to warm humid climatic conditions experienced in Kerala. The study, about components of heritable variation revealed that the characters, number of panicles m-2 number of tertiary branches panicle-1, yield ha-1, spikelet sterility percentage and alkali spreading value exhibited high broad sense heritability coupled with high expected genetic advance and high genotypic coefficient of variation. High broad sense heritability and high expected genetic advance coupled with moderate genotypic coefficient of variation were manifested by the characters, namely, height of plant at harvest, second uppermost internodal length, length of flag leaf, ratio of vegetative phase to reproductive phase, number of spikelets panicle-1 number of grains panicle-1, LIB ratio of grain, milling percentage, amylose content, volume expansion ratio and water uptake. '1 Correlation studies revealed that the principal yield determining components in rice are harvest index, number of tertiary branches panicle-1 number of panicles m-2 number of grains panicle-1 number of spikelets panicle-1. ratio of vegetative phase to reproductive phase, 1000 grain weight, number of days to 50 per cent flowering, number of days to harvest and spikelet sterility percentage. While selecting genotypes for higher yield potential, emphasis should be given for comparatively long vegetative period, short period from panicle initiation to 50 per cent flowering and long ripening period. A selection model was formulated consisting of the characters, namely, yield ha-1 harvest index, number of days to harvest, number of tertiary branches panicle-1 ratio of vegetative phase to reproductive phase and number of grains panicle-1 Cluster analysis revealed that there was no parallelism between geographical distribution and genetic diversity. The 56 genotypes representing different eco-geographical regions were grouped into nine clusters based on genetic distances. Combining ability studies showed that both additive and non-additive gene effects were important, with predominance of non-additive gene action, for all the characters except for 1000 grain weight, second uppermost internodal length and height of plant at harvest. The varieties Vytilla3, Mahsuri, Mattatriveni and Karthika were identified as good general combiners. The varieties Mahsuri, Karthika, Vytilla 3, Mattatriveni and IR62030-18-2-2 showed pronounced cytoplasmic effect on yield and various yield contributing characters. The crosses Vytilla 3 x Mattatriveni, Mahsuri x Vytilla-3 an,d Mahsuri x Mattatriveni are recommended for recombination breeding. The crosses Vytilla 3 x IR36, Vytilla 3 x IR60133-184-3-2, PK3355-5-1-4 x Bhadra, Vytilla 3 x Mattatriveni, Karthika x Bhadra, PK3355-5-1-4 x Karthika and PK3355-5-1-4 x IR620'30-18-2-2 are recommended for heterosis breeding. The cytoplasm of Vytilla 3 (an improved saline tolerant variety of Kerala) was identified as an alternative source for cytoplasmic male sterility in rice, suitable to warm humid tropical climate, experienced in Kerala. The varieties IR36 (international check) and Hraswa (extra short duration high yielding variety of Kerala) are the proposed maintainer lines. Mattatriveni is the proposed restorer line for the proposed IR36 'A’ line and Hraswa 'A’ line. The generation mean analysis using six parameter model revealed that both additive and non-additive gene effects played an important role in the inheritance of yield and important yield components, with predominance of dominance, additive x additive and dominance x dominance type of gene effects. Results of inbreeding depression indicated absence of reduction in vigour in the F2 generations for yield and all other yield attributes. Investigation on pattern of inheritance of kernel colour revealed that kernel colour in rice is a complex qualitative character. Each red and white colour may be separately controlled by two or more sets of genes having both inhibitory and duplicate type of gene interactions with predominance of inhibitory type gene interaction. From 22F2 generations, seven early stabilized promising lines and 26 promising segregants were selected. Two early stabilized lines were found to possess most of the ideotype features proposed by IRRI with preferable cooking quality characters. Their further evaluation and multiplication are being carried out at the Agricultural Research Station, Mannuthy, Kerala Agricultural University. By hybridization, it was possible to successfully transfer the non sticky nature and red kernel colour of Mattatriveni to a high yielding Taiwan variety whose kernel is white and sticky on cooking. The gene action studies revealed that there is ample scope for yield improvement in rice both through pedigree breeding and heterosis breeding. As yield and yield components were found to be under the control of all the three types of gene actions namely, additive, dominance and epistasis, intercrossing of early segregating generations derived from multiple crosses seems to be the best suited method of breeding for yield improvement in rice. Future line of studies suggested 1. Conversion of the already obtained cytoplasmic male sterile F1 crosses to fully sterile CMS lines by repeated back crossing with the respective recurrent parents. 2. Screening from the segregating populations of these cytoplasmic male sterile crosses for 100 per cent cytoplasmic male sterile lines. 3. Confirmation of the restoring ability of the proposed Mattatriveni 'R' line and identification of other restorers. 4. Incorporation of the sterile cytoplasm of Vytilla 3 into other elite genotypes other than IR36 and Hraswa. 5. Screening for cytoplasmic male sterile system in other saline tolerant lines. 6. Screening of promising segregants selected, for high yield and quality with multiple resistance to pest and diseases, for developing varieties suited to various climatic and soil conditions of Kerala.ThesisItem Open Access Combining ability for biological nitrogen fixation traits and yield components in blackgram (Vigna mungo (L.) Hepper)(Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 1998) Beena Thomas; KAU; Sreekumar, S GThe research programme was carried out at the Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, College of Agriculture, Vellayani during 1995-96. The objective was to assess the general and specific combining abilities and gene action involved in the inheritance of biological nitrogen fixation traits and yield components in blackgram, as a preliminary step for developing high yielding varieties with good biological nitrogen fixation capacity. The five lines, three testers and their 15 combinations were evaluated in a replicated field experiment and data on twelve characters were collected and subjected to line x tester analysis. The best general combiners for important biological nitrogen fixation traits were COBG305 and Pant U19 among lines and T9 among testers. The hybrid combination Pant U19 x T9 was the best specific combiner for these characters. In the case of number of pods and grain yield per plant, among. lines WBG-13 and among testers T9 were the best general combiners. The hybrids, LBG 17 x VBN 1 and WBG 13 x AKU4 were the best specific combinations for these traits. Considering the mean performance, sea effect and standard heterosis percentage Pant U 19 x T9 was identified as the best hybrid combination for nodule weight and nitrogen content at 50 per cent flowering. Regarding yield, the best hybrid was WBG 13 x AKU4. These superior combinations can be utilized further for developing improved blackgram varieties.ThesisItem Open Access Heterosis and combining ability in greengram (Vigna radiate (L.) Wilczek) for biological nitrogen fixation and yield(Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 1998) Bhadra, K; KAU; Wilson, DThe research programme was carried out in diallel manner at the Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, Thiruvananthapurarn during 1996-98. The objective was to assess the general and specific combining abilities and gene action involved in the inheritance of biological nitrogen fixation traits and yield attributes in green gram. The study was conducted in a diallel model in a replicated field experiment using seven varieties of greengram, out of them four were high yielders and three with good nitrogen fixing capacity. Seven parents and twenty one hybrids were also raised in pots with seven replications to study the nodulation efficiency of hybrids and parents. Analysis of variance revealed highly significant differences among the genotypes for all the characters. Except for nitrogen content at 50% flowering and harvest index, gca effects were not significant, for all the other characters both gca and sea effects were significant. The additive to dominance ratio indicated a preponderance of non-additive gene action for all characters except number of secondary roots and weight of nodules. The combining ability analysis revealed that NDM-88-14 was the good general combiner with respect to important nitrogen fixation traits where as P-9333 was the best general combiner with respect to yield and 2 other yield attributes. P-9333 x NDM-88-14 was the best specific combiner for nitrogen content. P-9333 x IIPRM-3, IIPRM-3 x LGG-444 and P-9333 x COGG-902 were the best specific combiners for yield and yield attributes. Combining the mean performance, sca effects and heterobeltiosis P-9333 x NDM-88-14 was identified as the good hybrid combination for nitrogen fixation traits. Re~arding yield, the hybrids P-9333 x IIPRM-3, P-9333 x COGG-902 turned out to be outstanding. Therefore, these hybrids can be utilized for crop improvement programme.ThesisItem Open Access Genetic evaluation of F4 and F5 generations of irradiated interspecific hybrids in okra(Abelmoschus spp.)(Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 1998) Anu Mary, C Philip; KAU; Manju, PA study was undertaken in the Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, College of Agriculture, Vellayani during 1997-98 for the genetic evaluation of the F 4 and F 5 generations of irradiated interspecific hybrids between A. esculentus and A. manihot with the objective of isolating high yielding yellow vein mosaic disease resistant lines from the segregating generations. The families in the F 4M4 generation were found to be late flowering and recorded higher mean values for number of leaves, number of branches, number of flowers and number of fruits per plant compared to the cultivated parent. The fruit yield per plant was higher than the parents inspite of the reduction noticed in average fruit weight. The families recorded lesser values for fruiting phase and duration and higher values for plant height. The crude fibre content of the fruits, yellow vein mosaic incidence and shoot and fruit borer infestation were lower in the families. This provided scope for the selection of several high yielding and YVM disease resistant types from the F 4M4 generation Number of flowers per plant and incidence of YVM disease recorded high phenotypic and genotypic coefficients of variation. High heritability and genetic advance were observed for leaf number and weight of fruits per plant. Fruit yield per plant had high positive correlations with leaf number, number of branches, number of flowers and fruits per plant and plant height. Hence effective selection can be done for these characters for yield improvement. In the F sMs generation, the families were early flowering and recorded increase in leaf area, pollen sterility and number of branches per plant. The families also recorded higher mean values for leaf number, number of flowers and fruits per plant and plant height compared to the parents. The fruit yield per plant, average fruit weight and number of seeds per fruit were higher in the F sMs families. The fruiting phase and duration recorded an increase while the crude fibre content of fruits, incidence of YVM and incidence of shoot and fruit borer recorded lower mean values. Incidence of YVM disease had the maximum phenotypic and genotypic coefficients of variation. High heritability and genetic advance were observed for yield of fruits per plant. Weight of fruits per plant was significantly and positively correlated with leaf number, number of branches, number of flowers and fruits per plant, average fruit weight and plant height. Selection based on these characters will be effective in improving the yield of the crop. At the same time, high variation noted for YVM disease incidence offers more scope for selection based on disease incidence, in the process of selection for high yielding disease resistant types.ThesisItem Open Access Genetic variability and correlations in nine divergent varieties of coconut(Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 1998) Sindhumole, P; KAU; Ibrahim, K KAn experiment was conducted at Instructional Farm, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara during 1995-96 on nine coconut varieties viz., West Coast Tall x Choughat Yellow Dwarf, West Coast Tall x Gangabondam, Laccadive Ordinary x Gangabondam.West Coast Tall, Philippines, Jawa, Cochin China, New Guinea and Laccadive Ordinary, Significant varietal variance was absent among several characters, Economic characters showed the highest genotypic coefficient of variation (16 to 22%). Among the vegetative and reproductive characters, heritability was maximum for petiole length (52%) followed by the economic characters percent oil content and nut yield (45% each). Among the four reproductive characters studied for seasonal variability viz" spadix length (SL), branches spadix' (BS), female flowers spadix" (FF) and fruit set (FS), FF showed the maximum variation, FF andFS had been low during the rainy months, SL was markedly reduced during the winter months, Phenotypic correlation coefficients were generally lower than genetic SInce environmental correlation was either less in magnitude or in opposite direction in relation to the genetic, Genotypic correlations were mostly negative where vegetative characters were involved and positive for other pairs, Only nut yield among the four economic characters was correlated with both vegetative and reproductive characters, Other economic characters were dependent only on vegetative characters. Similarly step-down regression revealed that only vegetative characters were retained in the final model for all the economic characters except nut yield. Vegetative characters also showed higher direct effects than reproductive characters on the variability of economic characters. Trunk height generally produced highest direct effects on the economic characters, but was modified by the indirect effects to large extent except in the case of oil content (%). Correlation, regression and path analyses suggested that reproductive characters had less effect on economic characters when all the characters were recorded during the 'same year. This may possibly be due to genotype x season (year) interaction for the reproductive characters.ThesisItem Open Access Identification of stable male sterile lines and better combiners for exploitation of hybrid vigour in rice (Oryza Sativa L.)(Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 1998) Rosamma, C A; KAU; Vijayakumar, N KInvestigations to identify stable male sterile lines and better combiners for the exploitation of hybrid vigour in rice were conducted at College of Horticulture, Vetlantkkara and at Agricultural Research Station, Mannuthy during 1994-98. The study included evaluation of cytoplasmic - genic male sterile (CMS) lines to identify stable lines, identification of maintainers and restorers for different CMS lines, inheritance of fertility restoration, studies on the genetic distance between maintainers and restorers and genetic analysis of the hybrids. Out of the ten CMS lines evaluated, seven were identified as stable for pollen and spikelet sterility behaviour. Studies on the floral traits which influence outcrossing expressed variation between CMS lines and between seasons. Jyothi, Aruna, Pavizham and Ptb 10 produced more number of sterile hybrids when crossed with CMS lines having WA cytoplasm and hence these varieties can be used as maintainers. More number of fertile hybrid combinations were produced by Annapoorna, Matta Triveni, Kanchana, IR 36 and Aiswarya indicating the use of these varieties as restorers for WA cytoplasmic source. All the genotypes under study produced sterile hybrids when crossed with CMS lines having O. perennis cytoplasm and no restorers could be identified for this new source of cytoplasmic male sterility. Inheritance studies on fertility restoration indicated polygenic mode of inheritance for this particular character. Forty four rice genotypes included in the hybrid rice breeding programme were grouped into nine clusters, each having different number of genotypes. Maintainers and restorers were distributed in different clusters and no direct relation could be established between heterosis and genetic distance of the parents. Genetic analysis of the 34 fertile hybrids resulted in the identification of five hybrids having significant positive standard heterosis. Among the male sterile lines IR 68890A was identified as the best combiner for most of the agronomic traits and IR 68890A/Aiswarya was the best specific hybrid combination. Magnitude of the gca variance was more than the variance due to sca for days to flowering, total duration, harvest index, 100 seed weight and other grain characters indicating predominance of additive variance for these characters. Variance due to sca was more for plant height, tillers per plant, total dry matter production, grain yield per plant, straw yield per plant, panicle length and filled grains per panicle indicating predornlnance of variance due to dominance and epistasis. Studies on association of characters in hybrids revealed that total drymatter accumulation, harvest index, number of filled grains per panicle, grain breadth, panicle weight, grain density, flag leaf area and leaf area index at 60 days after sowing were positively correlated with grain yield produced by the hybrids. Negative influence of sterile cytoplasm was identified for most of the agronomic attributes.ThesisItem Open Access Genetic analysis of greengram genotypes for shade tolerance(Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 1998) Rajeswari, A; KAU; Kamalam, NAn investigation was carried out to evaluate the shade tolerance potential of 25 genotypes of green gram under partially shaded coconut gardens in the Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, College of Agriculture, Vellayani. The genotypes were evaluated in a randomised block design with three replications and observations were recorded for nineteen quantitative characters. The genetic parameters, correlation and path coefficients were studied and a selection index was formulated to identify superior genotypes. The genotypes showed significant differences for all the characters except incidence of pod borer Measurement of periodical shade intensity did not show significant difference among the plots which indicated the prevalence of uniform shade. High genotypic coefficient of variation was observed for leaf area index (flowering) followed by number of abnormal, oblique, unfilled pods, LAI (pod formation), pod clusters per plant and pods per plant. High heritability coupled with high genetic advance was recorded for pods per plant, LAI at flowering and pod formation and pod clusters per plant indicating additive gene action. Correlation studies indicated that pods per plant followed by branches per plant, clusters per plant, photosynthetic efficiency (flowering) and LAI (flowering) showed strong positive correlation with grain yield whereas days to blooming, days to first harvest and grains per pod recorded negative correlation. The path coefficient analysis revealed high positive direct contribution of pods per plant to grain yield per plant. In addition, pod length and plant height also showed positive direct contribution to grain yield per plant. A selection index was constructed based on grain yield per plant and 9 yield contributing characters identified through correlation and path analysis. Five top ranking genotypes viz. IIPRM 3, MGG 314, RMG 353, Ganga 4 and LGG 460 were identified for cultivation under partially shaded condition of coconut garden and for further breeding programme.