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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: Horticulture × Author: Abhaya, M C × End date: 2020 × Start date: 2012 × Thesis Type: M.Sc ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Plant regeneration of Coscinium fenestratum (Gaertn.) colebr. through axenic seed culture and axillary bud culture
    (Department of Plantation Crops and Spices, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 2020) Abhaya, M C; KAU; Suma, B
    Coscinium fenestratum (Gaertn.) Colebr. is a medicinally important, perennial woody climber belonging to the family Menispermaceae. It is commonly known as Tree turmeric in English and locally as Maramanjal in Kerala and Tamil Nadu. Berberine, a yellow crystalline isoquinoline alkaloid is the main active principle compound present in the plant. The plant is a high volume traded one and its only source now is wild vegetation. Due to the combined impacts of high demand and over exploitation, the existence of this plant is under threat. Long pre-bearing age, seed dormancy, viability and regeneration problems also led to the extinction of this species and now the plant is listed as a critically endangered species in the IUCN red list of threatened species. The present study entitled “Plant regeneration of Coscinium fenestratum (Gaertn.) Colebr. through axenic seed culture and axillary bud culture” was undertaken at tissue culture laboratory of Department of Plantation Crops and Spices, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara during the academic year 2018 - 2020. The objective of the study was to develop a feasible and reproducible in vitro protocol for mass propagation of Coscinium fenestratum. Experiments included, identification of best seed surface sterilization procedure, identification of best in vitro seed germination medium, standardization of shoot regeneration medium for nodal explants and cotyledonary nodal explants and also standardization of embryo culture method. Study revealed the presence of fungal and bacterial endophytes in the seeds of Coscinium fenestratum. Among the different sterilants tested for surface sterilization of seeds, 0.1% HgCl₂ (15 min) was found to be the best agent for the culture establishment with minimum contamination. Among the different media tested for in vitro seed germination, the sterilized sand: coir pith (1:1) media soaked with distilled water was found to be better with highest germination percentage (22.95 %) and lowest germination time (55.68 days). An efficient shoot initiation and multiplication protocol was developed using seedling cotyledonary nodal explant. MS media supplemented with 0.06 mg L-1 2, 4 - D along with different concentrations of cytokinin, 0.2 mg L-1 BA, 0.2 mg L-1 kinetin and 0.4 mg L-1 kinetin responded to shoot initiation. On an average bud initiation was observed within 14 days after culture establishment. Significantly highest number of shoots were produced in MS media supplemented with 0.2 mg L-1 BA and 0.06 mg L-1 2, 4 - D (4.5 shoots/culture), followed by MS media supplemented with 0.2 mg L-1 kinetin and 0.06 mg L-1 2, 4 - D (3.83 shoots/culture) and MS media supplemented with 0.4 mg L-1 kinetin and 0.06 mg L-1 2, 4 - D (2 shoots/culture). The shoots produced in MS media supplemented with BA were stout and bigger than that obtained from kinetin supplemented media and they produced large and broad leaves. Among the basal media tried for nodal explants, WPM was found to be better than the MS medium. Among the growth regulators, kinetin at 0.4 mg L-1 was found to be superior for shoot induction (91.63 %) with WPM basal medium. The period of morphogenic response for shoot induction was faster in the WPM medium (10 days). Even though shoot initiation was noticed in the WPM medium, all the treatments failed to give multiple shoot production. Mature embryo of Coscinium fenestratum excised from the GA₃ pre-treated seeds could be easily cultured on the MS basal media. Zygotic embryo excised from GA₃ pre-treated seeds (4000 mg L-1 GA₃ solution for 72 hours) when cultured on MS medium in dark condition for 2 weeks followed by exposure to the light condition showed faster development of the embryo, radicle emergence (100 %), plumule emergence (77.78 %) and seedling development (44.44 %). These axenic seedlings without microbial contamination could be used as an explants for further micropropagation studies. The study resulted in developing a feasible in vitro shoot regeneration protocol using seedling explant and axillary bud culture. The research results can be used as the stepping stone for further development of a high frequency plant regeneration protocol for the critically endangered medicinal plant Coscinium fenestratum and its conservation.