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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: Deepa, V × Author: KAU × End date: 1999 × Start date: 1980 × Type: Thesis × Thesis Type: M.Sc ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Effective methods and devices for home scale adoption of plant tissue culture
    (Department of Horticulture, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 1996) Deepa, V; KAU; Reghunath, B R
    Attempts were made to develop cost-effective methods and devices for home scale adoption of plant tissue culture in the plant tissue culture laboratory of the Department of Horticulture, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, during 1993-95. The test plant selected for the study was Anthurium andreanum Lind. (Pink). Segments of leaf were used as explant for cullus initiation. The callus so obtained was used for further regeneration studies. Various low cost equipment were fabricated and tested for their efficiency in comparison to the conventional expensive method. One-fourth strength of the major nutrients of MS medium along with full strength of micro nutrients was found good for the induction of multiple shoots. All the growth parameters were found adversely affected by the use of LR grade chemicals, when compared to AR grade chemicals. Confectionary grade sugar was found to be equally good to AR grade sucrose, while commercial grade crystal sugar was not. Rain water could be used as a substitute to double glass distilled water in the culture medium. Attempts to substitute agar-agar with less expensive playing marbles, as support matrix of the culture medium was also successful. Ordinary (gold-smith type) balance could be used to replace the expensive electronic balance in weighing chemicals for media preparation. The pH indicator paper could be effectively used instead of the pH meter, in adjusting pH of the medium. Ordinary colourless glass bottles and jam jars could be economically used, instead of expensive borosilicate glassware. The domestic pressure cooker was equally efficient as the electric autoclave in sterilising culture medium and containers. The expensive refrigerator could be effectively replaced with ice-packed thermocol boxes. Instead of the laminar airflow cabinet, the fabricated transfer hood could be effectively used. Attempts to substitute artificial flourescent light with natural light were successful. Rooted plantlets when planted out exhibited 30 per cent loss during various stages of hardening. The cost of producing a single anthurium plantlet was Rs. 5.16 in the conventional method, whereas in the cost-effective method it could be brought down to Rs. 1.82.
  • Thumbnail Image
    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Cost- effective methods and devices for home scale adoption of plant tissue culture
    (Department of Horticulture, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 1996) Deepa, V; KAU; Reghunath, B R
    Attempts were made to develop cost-effective methods and devices for home scale adoption of plant tissue culture in the plant tissue culture laboratory of the Department of Horticulture, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, during 1993-95. The test plant selected for the study was Anthurium andreanum Lind. (Pink). Segments of leaf were used as explant for cullus initiation. The callus so obtained was used for further regeneration studies. Various low cost equipment were fabricated and tested for their efficiency in comparison to the conventional expensive method. One-fourth strength of the major nutrients of MS medium along with full strength of micro nutrients was found good for the induction of multiple shoots. All the growth parameters were found adversely affected by the use of LR grade chemicals, when compared to AR grade chemicals. Confectionary grade sugar was found to be equally good to AR grade sucrose, while commercial grade crystal sugar was not. Rain water could be used as a substitute to double glass distilled water in the culture medium. Attempts to substitute agar-agar with less expensive playing marbles, as support matrix of the culture medium was also successful. Ordinary (gold-smith type) balance could be used to replace the expensive electronic balance in weighing chemicals for media preparation. The pH indicator paper could be effectively used instead of the pH meter, in adjusting pH of the medium. Ordinary colourless glass bottles and jam jars could be economically used, instead of expensive borosilicate glassware. The domestic pressure cooker was equally efficient as the electric autoclave in sterilising culture medium and containers. The expensive refrigerator could be effectively replaced with ice-packed thermocol boxes. Instead of the laminar airflow cabinet, the fabricated transfer hood could be effectively used. Attempts to substitute artificial flourescent light with natural light were successful. Rooted plantlets when planted out exhibited 30 per cent loss during various stages of hardening. The cost of producing a single anthurium plantlet was Rs. 5.16 in the conventional method, whereas in the cost-effective method it could be brought down to Rs. 1.82.