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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: Abhila, S R × Author: KAU × End date: 2010 × Start date: 2003 × Type: Thesis ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Collection, characterization and evaluation of Aloe vera (L.) Burm. f. germplasm
    (Department of Plantation Crops and Spices, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 2007) Abhila, S R; KAU; Jessykutty, P C
    The present study titles “Collection, characterization and evaluation of Aloe vera (L) Burm.f.germplasm” was conducted at the Department of Plantation crops and spices, College of Agriculture, Vellayani during the period April 2006 – March 2007. Thirty diverse accessions of aloe were collected from various locations of Kerala and Tamil Nadu> Preliminary evaluation of reference sample plants of each accession were done in terms of morphological and biochemical characters. A final evaluation of morphological, anatomical and biochemical characters were carried out one year after planting in the new environment and association between morphological, biochemical and yield contributing characters were worked out and the accessions were evaluated based on these results. The accessions recorded significant variation for morphological characters like plant height, plant spread, leaf length, leaf breadth, leaf thickness, leaf weight, leaf shape, leaf colour, phyllocrone and suckering. Study of the anatomical characters of the accessions like number of stomata, cuticle thickness, epidermal thickness and mesophyll thickness revealed that there was no significant variation among the accessions with regard to number of stomata and epidermal thickness. Significant difference existed in mesophyll thickness and it was the highest for AV-2 and hence maximum gel yield. Wide variation in biochemical characters such as amino acids, total sugars, fattyacids, vitamin A and C, saponins, minerals such as sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium and iron content and activity of enzymes like peroxidase and polyphenol oxidase were noticed among the thirty accessions. Yield analysis of the accessions revealed that AV-16, AV-12, AV-2, AV-6, AV-13, AV-30, AV-29, AV-15, AV-9 and AV-7 had superior yield contributing characters. The accessions having superior biochemical characters are AV-5, AV-25, AV-18, AV-23, AV-11, AV-21, AV-24, AV-27, AV-19 and AV-26, hence are superior in quality. By combining yield contributing and quality characters accessions AV-12, AV-16, AV-13, AV-6, AV-15, AV-2, AV-30, AV-19, AV-29 and AV-14 were found to be superior. The accessions AV-16, AV-12, AV-2 and AV-6 were found superior based on morphological characters and morphological and biochemical characters together. Association between morphological, biochemical and yield contributing characters revealed that morphological characters like plant height, plant spread, leaf length, leaf breadth, leaf thickness and leaf weight showed positive association with leaf yield and latex yield. So these characters offer good scope for selection among the present collection of aloe accessions. A location specific evaluation had to be carried out with these aloe accessions in areas with diverse agro climatic situations for evolving a suitable variety.