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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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1982 - 198911990 - 19951
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Subject: Horticulture × Author: KAU × Author: Sadhan Kumar, P G × Type: Thesis ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Incorporation of resistance to fruit cracking in a bacterial wilt resistant genetic background in tomato
    (Department of Olericulture, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 1995) Sadhan Kumar, P G; KAU; Rajan, S
    An investigation on “Incorporation of resistance to fruit cracking in a bacterial wilt resistant genetic background in tomato” was undertaken in the Department of Olericulture, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara during the period from January, 1991 to March, 1994. The findings are succinctly mentioned below. Evaluation for bacterial wilt resistance revealed that Sakthi and LE 79 – 5 are consistently resistant to bacterial wilt. Four addition sources of bacterial wilt resistance were identified viz., LE 214, CAV – 5, LE 415 and LE 382 – 1. Resistances to bacterial wilt in these lines was governed by recessive genes. Screening for resistances to fruit cracking resulted in the identification of fifteen tomato genotypes which were found to be resistant to both radial and concentric cracking. Resistances to concentric fruit cracking in these lines were found to be dominant. All the bacterial wilt resistant genotypes had a higher content of total phenols, O.D. phenol and ascorbic acid than the susceptible line pusa Ruby. The crack resistant varieties had a higher content of insoluble solids and pectin, lower content of acidity, total sugar and reducing sugar in fruits, thick fruit skin and pericarb as compared to susceptible variety. The elasticity of skin was also higher in crack resistant genotypes. Crack resistant varieties had a compact arrangement of parenchymatous cells when compared with crack susceptible variety. The resistant lines had a thicker cuticle also. The F1 S developed by line x tester crossing were susceptible to bacterial wilt. All the same, they were resistant to both radial and concentric fruit cracking indicating dominant gene action for crack resistance. The F2 segregants with combined resistance to both bacterial wilt and fruit cracking were selected for further improvement.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Response of cucumber genotypes to ethephon application
    (Department of Olericulture, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 1982) Sadhan Kumar, P G; KAU; Peter, K V
    Investigations were carried out during two seasons (October-January, 1981-82 and March-May, 1982) to find out the response of 20 Cucumis genotypes to four levels of ethephon (0,100, 200 and 300 ppm) at the Instructional Farm, College of Horticulture, Kerala Agricultural University, Vellanikkara. Ethephon caused significant reduction in length of main vine, nodes to first female flower, nodes to first fruit, seed number and flesh thickness. Nodes to first male flower and primary branches/plant were significantly increased. There was no significant effect of ethephon on fruit length, fruit weight and fruit volume during both the seasons. There was an increase in yield in CS 27 (326.62%) while definite reduction in yield was observed in CS 26 (42.53%), CS 43 (60.47%), CS 38 (60.79%), CS 51 (50.74%) and CS 31 (63.82%) during the first season. During second season there was no significant effect of ethephon on fruit yield. Effect of ethephon sprays on plant to alter vegetative characters is further confirmed in the present study. Despite reduction in seed number due to ethephon application, no appreciable change was observed for fruit weight, fruit volume and fruit length. This is a matter for worth investigation. Reduction is vine length and increase in primary branches could be attributed to effects of ethephon to effect the phenomenon of apical dominance. The study proved that response of Cucumis genotypes to ethephon is governed by genotype, season of cultivation and concentration of ethephon used.