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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Open Access
Standrdisation of spacing for tissue culture banana cv. nendran (AAB group)
(Department of Horticulture, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 1994) Anil, B K; KAU; Jayachandran Nair, C S
The investigation on “Standardisation of spacing for tissue culture banana cv. Nendran (AAB group)” was conducted at the Department of Horticulture, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, Thiruvananthapuram during, 1992-’93 inorder to study the effect of different spacings on growth, yield and fruit quality of Nendran banana. The results obtained are presented below: In the early stages of growth, the vegetative characters were not influenced by the spacings tried. However, during later periods, the plant height, girth, number of leaves per plant, total and functional leaf area, interval of leaf production, LAI and LAD increased with decrease in spacing. The time taken for bunch emergence, maturity and duration of crop increased with decrease in spacing. The number of suckers per plant decreased with decrease in spacing, while total number of suckers per hectare increased with decrease in spacing. The biomass and drymatter production per plant, bunch yield and fruit size were higher in wider spacing, while on per hectare basis it was the reverse. Drymatter content, TSS, reducing, non-reducing and total sugars and sugar/acid ratio of fruits increased with increase in spacing, while acidity and ascorbic acid content decreased. The time taken for ripening of fruits decreased with increase in spacing, while shelf life remained unaffected. The benefit/cost ratio was most favourable in 1.75 x 1.75 m spacing. Incidence of pests and diseases were severe in closer spacings above 1.75 x 1.75 m. Soil nutrient depletion was tolerable upto 1.75 x 1.75 m spacing, while uptake and partitioning of major nutrients by individual plants decreased with decrease in spacing. Fruits showed the highest nitrogen and phosphorus content followed by leaf, leaf sheath, corn and pseudostem. Potassium content was the highest in leaf followed by fruits, corm, leaf sheath and pseudostem. In general spacing 1.75 x 1.75 m did not significantly affect the plant growth, yield and quality of fruits. However, the experiment has to be repeated to arrive at conclusive results.
Open Access
Induction of orthotrops in vegetatively propagated nutmeg (myristica fragrans houtt.) plants.
(Department of Plantation Crops and Spices, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 1994) Rani, T G; KAU; Nazeem, P A
Investigations were made to induce orthotrops in vegetatively propagated nutmeg (Myristica fragrans Houtt.) plants at the Department of plantation Crops and Spices, college of Horticulture , vellanikkara, Thrissur during the period 1993-94. Budding orthotropic scions on there year old nutmeg plants alone showed bud take. In situ budding on three year old field plants gave the maximum bud take and bud sprouting . Among the different methods tried , maximum initial success was obtained with patch method in M. fragrans and forkert method in M. beddomei. The month of August was found to be the best season for in situ budding and July for budding in polybag plants. Partial shade was found ideal for better bud take than the mist . chamber conditions in nutmeg. Stumping the root stock above the bud union retaining the whorl of lower leaves gave better sprouting and later survival. The anatomical studies of bud union revealed the sequence of bud union as the callus formation stages , callus bridge stage and cambial differentiation stage. Absence of callusing , damage to cambial layers of stock or scion, thick necrotic layer and a wide gap between stock and scion and phenolic exudation were attributed to the probable reasons for bud failure . On mature branches of nutmeg trees, maximum number of orthotrops were induced when an orthotrop was cut close to the tree trunk leaving 30 cm stump. Staking the immature brown shoots of one to two years age and young green shoots of less than six months of nutmeg grafts acquired a reduced angle with the vertical even one month after removal of stake. Among the physical and chemical treatments tried to induce orthotrops in nutmeg grafts of plagiotropic nature, the treatments stumping and application of 5 ppm kinetin was found superior with respect to the number of shoots produced per plant. However , none of the shoots were found to have orthotropic growth pattern. Anatomy of orthotropic and staked stems revealed the production of more wood towards the adaxial side than towards the adaxial side. Plagiotropic stem have more or less proportionate wood formation on both sides.
Open Access
Standardisation of propagation and stage of harvest in adakodien
(Department of Plantation Crops and Spices, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 1994) Meera, N; KAU; Alice, Kurian
Investigations on standardization of propagation and stage of harvest in adakodien (Holostemma annulare k. Schum.) were carried out at the Department of Plantation Crops and Spices, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara during 1992-94. The trial was laid out in a factorial RBD with 3 replications. The treatments comprised of fifteen combinations of five planting materials (seedlings, 2 noded vine cuttings, 3 noded vine cuttings, root stumps 10 cm and main root cuttings 5 cm) and three stage of harvest (9, 12 and 18 months after planting). Seedlings were rated as the best planting material realizing maximum yield potential of fresh and dried roots (3.49 t ha-1 and 1.19t ha-1 respectively). Root characters contributing to yield, driage and harvest index and biometric characters related with yield such as internodal length, diameter of the vine and number of branches were highest for seedlings. The soluble carbohydrate content was also maximum for seedlings. Rating of the planting material under field condition followed the same trend as in the nursery. The preference for the five planting material in the decreasing order were seedling, root stump 10 cm, 3 noded vine cutting, 2 noded vine cutting and main root cuttings 5 cm. The presence of large number of seeds in a fruit coupled with high germination per cent and field establishment and the high yielding nature of seedlings make this a commercially acceptable planting material. Harvesting the roots 18 months after planting was found to be most beneficial for achieving maximum yield (4.14 t ha-1 and 1.56 t ha-1 of fresh and dry roots respectively). Biometric characters related to yield such as internodal length, diameter of the vine and number of branches and all the root characters, driage and harvest index were maximum at this stage. Total aminoacid and soluble carbohydrate content showed a progressive increase with advance in age and highest content was recorded at 18 months after planting. Six free aminoacids were isolated from the roots and they were identified as alanine, aspartic acid, glycine, valine, serine and threonine. Seedlings harvested after 18 months was the most desirable treatment combination for realizing maximum yield of roots and chemical components. Characters such as internodal length, diameter of vine, number of branches and root volume could be taken as selections indices for high root yield. The benefit cost analysis suggest that adakodien is a profitable crop which can be groomed as a commercial crop for Kerala.
Open Access
Standardisation of medium supplements for shoot proliferation in dendrobium
(Department of Pomology and Floriculture, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 1994) Sudeep, R; KAU; Rajeevan, P K
Investigations were carried out at the Plant Tissue Culture Laboratory attached to the All India Co-ordinated Floriculture Improvement Project (AICFIP), College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, during 1991 – 1993 to study the effect of various medium supplements on shoot proliferation in Dendrobium. Axillary buds of Dentrobium nobile were used explants for inoculation. The explants were surface sterilized with 0.1 % mercuric chloride for 10 minutes. Half strength MS medium and VW medium were employed for culture establishment and shoot proliferation. The addition of cytokinin related substances, viz., adenine and adenine sulphate did not have any significant influence on shoot proliferation in either of the media. However, adenine influenced the production of leaves and length of shoots in MS medium, in combination with NAA 2.0 ppm and BA 5.0 ppm. Among the amino acid supplements tried, casein hydrolysate influenced multiple shoot production and leaf production in half strength MS medium. In VW media, peptone enhanced the production of multiple shoots whereas shoot length and leaf production were promoted by casein hydrolysate. Coconut water increased the number of shoots in both half strength MS medium and VW medium. In VW medium length of shoot and number of leaves also were influenced. Tomato juice in combination with NAA and BA produced the maximum number of shoots and leaves in half strength MS medium. It also influenced the shoot production, shoot length and leaf production in VW medium. Spathodea bud liquid influenced shoot elongation and flower extract, the number of leaves, in VW media. Banana pulp could significantly influence the shoot length and leaf number in VW medium alone. Potato extract could not significantly influence shoot production in ½ MS medium, but in VW medium it significantly influenced shoot production, shoot length and leaf number. The shoots produced in media with potato extract was healthier when compared with others. Oscimum leaf extract was found to have no significant influence in either of the media for any of the characters studied. In half strength MS medium, sucrose 3 per cent + NAA 2.0 ppm + BA 5.0 ppm and in VW media glucose 3 per cent + NAA 2.0 ppm + BA 5.0 ppm or sucrose 5 per cent was the best for producing multiple shoots. The shoots were the longest in ½ MS medium with sucrose but in VW medium, glucose was better. For in vitro rooting, KC medium with 3 per cent glucose was the best. The maximum survival percentage of the in vitro plantlets occurred when coconut husk was used as the potting media and when the plantlets were kept in the open. Among all the treatments tried, the best treatment for multiple shoot production was peptone 40 ppm + NAA 2.0 ppm + BA 5.0 ppm in VW medium which produced 16.67 shoots on an average. The longest shoot (5.53 cm) was produced by the combination of tomato juice 10 per cent + NAA 2.0 ppm + BA 5.0 ppm in VW media. The treatment that produced the maximum leaves (6.33) was tomato juice 5 per cent in VW media.
Open Access
Leaf litter addition and nutrient recycling in two clones of rubber (Hevea brasiliensis Muell. Arg.) at Vellanikkara estate of Kerala Agricultural University
(Department of Plantation Crops and Spices, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 1994) Rajan, S; KAU; Nazeem, P A
The present study deals with the quantification of leaf litter addition and nutrient recycling in two clones of rubber in the Vellanikkara Estate of kerala Agricultural University , Trichur . Two different methods of collection were adopted for litter collection in both the clones RRII 105 and RRII 118. Wintering was found to start on 23rd November, 1993 for clone RRII 105 and continued till 12th February , 1994 whereas in RRII 118 wintering strated by 25th November, 1993 and continued till 17th February , 1994. Peak leaf fall was noticed in the month of January for RRII 105 whereas it was in the month of February in the case of RRII 118. Thus clonal variation do exist for the wintering pattern. The total leaf litter production was estimated to the 4954.297 kg for RRII105 and 4584.558 kg for RRII 118. The nutrients contributed through leaf litter during wintering in the clone RRII 105 were 72 kg N, 2 kg p, 57 kg K, 59 kg ca and 12kg mg whereas for the clone RRII 118 it was 61kg N, 2kg p, 43kg k , 79 kg ca and 9kg mg . The clone RRII 105 contributed more litter as well as nutrients than the clone RRII 118. Contrary to the previous years the nutrient levels in the leaf litter did not follow a regular pattern during the wintering period . The presence of green leaves shed due to high wind velocity resulted in an increased level of nutrients in some collection s. It was also observed that the contribution of N, K and Ca were more during the wintering period whereas p was more prior to peak wintering and Mg was more after peak wintering. Comparison of nutrient status in soil samples collected from the area enclosed by net and outside sites showed that removal of leaf litter resulted in relatively lower levels of soil nutrients in the top soil . The leaf area worked out during the study was 6.44 for the clone RRII 105 and 5.53 for clone RRII118. The study also revealed that enclosing the trees with net is the best method to quantify the leaf litter addition . The expensive and cumbersome procedure of providing nets cannot be replaced by collecting the leaf litter from a marked area provided with 15 cm high fencing . The leaf litter accumulated in the fenced area was always less and varied from 27 to 71 per cent of the quantity of litter collected by providing net to cover the canopy all around the trees.
Open Access
Effects of planting dates and floral preservatives on spike qualities of gladiolus (Gladiolus grandiflorus)
(Department of Horticulture, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 1994) Suneetha, S; KAU; Vasanthakumar, K
Investigations were carried out at the Department of Horticulture, College of Agriculture, Vellayani during 1992-93 to gather information on the effect of six planting dates at monthly intervals from mid-August to mid-January on the general performance of three gladiolus cultivars. A post-harvest study was also conducted to find out the effect of seven holding solutions on the post-harvest spike characteristics. Studies revealed that corms planted during October were the earliest to complete sprouting. October plantings also produced the tallest plants with maximum leaf number and leaf area. Delayed plantings took more time to attain 100 per cent sprouting and the plants were shorter with less number of leaves and leaf area. The earliest plants to complete spike emergence were the ones planted during November. Among the three cultivars tested, Oscar was the earliest to sprout and Vinks Glory the latest. Maximum plant height, leaf number and leaf area were recorded in the cultivar Vinks Glory. Vinks Glory also produced the maximum number of tillers per plant. Her Majesty was the earliest of the three cultivars to complete flowering, while Vinks Glory took the longest time. Maximum susceptibility to Fusarium wilt was exhibited by the cultivar Her Majesty, whereas Vinks Glory was the least susceptible. Observations on the effect of planting dates on spike characteristics indicated that September plantings registered the maximum spike and rachis lengths. In general, delayed planting resulted in reduced spike and rachis length, floret size and number of florets per spike. Early plantings done in August September and October also produced the maximum number of florets per spike and floret size. The longest spikes with the maximum rachis length, number of florets and floret size were observed in Oscar. The spikes of Oscar also recorded the maximum girth of spike stalk. Early plantings done in August, September and October increased the time taken from spike emergence to opening of first floret, blooming period and vase life of spikes. Delayed planting produced spikes witch were inferior in this respect. Vinks Glory was the cultivar with spikes of maximum blooming period and vase life. Weight of corms produced was highest in the cultivar vinks Glory and lowest in Her Majesty. Her Majesty registered the maximum number of cormels per plant while Oscar produced the maximum cormel weight per plant. Delayed plantings resulted in a reduction of number of cormels per plant. Vase life studies conducted on the spikes of all the three cultivars revealed that the spikes held in preservative solutions produced better results when compared to those held in distilled water. The optimum holding solution for maximising the number of days to full bloom and vase life of spikes was a 5 percent sucrose solution containing 8-hydroxyquinoline (300 or 600 ppm). Holding solutions containing 5 percent sucrose and silver nitrate (100 or 200ppm) gave the next best results. Floret size and number of open florets was maximum in spikes held in 5 percent sucrose + 8-hydroxyquinoline 600 ppm. This holding solution also significantly delayed the bending of spikes in vase. Sucrose solutions containing aluminium sulphate produced superior results only when compared to control. Estimation of anthocyanin colour pigments in flower petals 2 and 10 days after harvest also revealed better retention of colour pigments in spikes held in sucrose plus 8-hydroxyquinoline solutions, when compared to the other solutions.
Open Access
Growth, Flowering, Fruit set and fruit development in kodampuli
(Department of Pomology and Floriculture, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 1994) Sherly, R; KAU; Parameswaran, M K
The present investigations were carried out in the Department of Pomology and Floriculture, College of Horticulture, during the year 1993 – 94. The study was undertaken with the objectives of understanding the growth and flowering pattern of the tree, floral biology, fruit set, fruit development and fruit drop in ‘Kodampuli’. The studies were conducted on four male trees and three hermaphrodite trees of about seven years age, receiving similar cultural practices. The studies indicated that shoot growth in ‘Kodampuli’ was seasonal with one main flushing period commencing from January and extending upto May. The shoot activity noticed during the remaining period of the year was very low. However, scattered flushes occurred throughout the year. The mean growth varied significantly from month to month with a peak growth during the summer months. Individual trees also showed significant variation among them in mean growth. However, there was no significant difference among the two types of trees, viz., male and hermaphrodite trees. The colour of emerging leaves showed marked difference among the male and hermaphrodite trees. In male trees, the emerging leaves were light green in colour while they showed a pinkish red colour in hermaphrodite trees. Flowering pattern of male and hermaphrodite trees were almost similar. However, male trees of ‘Kodampuli’ showed a protracted period of flowering extending over four to five months starting from the month of November onwards. In hermaphrodite trees, flowering started a little later in December and confined only to two to three months. Peak flowering in both type of trees was during January to April. The flower bud development took 32 days from visual emergence to anthesis in male flowers but only 28 days in bisexual flowers. ‘Kodampuli’ was observed to be androdioecious with male and bisexual flowers borne on separate trees. In male trees, the flowers occurred as cymose inflorescence having three to seven flowers per inflorescence. Bisexual flowers of hermaphrodite trees were borne singly and rarely in groups. In male flowers peak anthesis was between 16 30 and 17 00 hours and in bisexual flowers it was between 17 00 and 17 30 hours. Anther dehiscence occurred 10 hours prior to anthesis. Stigma became receptive 30 hours before anthesis and retained receptivity upto 12 hours after anthesis. Anther number and pollen per flower varied significantly among the two types of flowers. Number of pollen produced per anther was significantly higher in male flowers. The pollen fertility was also higher for male flowers. Sucrose at concentrations of 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 and boric acid at concentrations of 25, 50, 75 and 100 ppm were found to promote pollen germination. However, calcium nitrate at all concentrations tried (25 to 100 ppm) drastically reduced the pollen germination. A combination of four per cent sucrose and 75 ppm boric acid gave maximum germination (67.00 per cent). Pollen was found to be viable for six days in the dehisced bud condition and the viability was greatly reduced thereafter. Low temperature storage conditions gave better results when stored as staminal column or as pollen grain alone. The pollination in ‘Kodampuli’ was found to be effected by insects. ‘Kodampuli’ was found to be an often cross pollinated crop. Hand pollination with pollen from male flowers increased the percentage fruit set as compared to self pollination or open pollination indicating the importance of male trees in a population for improved fruit set. There was no apomictic fruit development in ‘Kodampuli’. The fruit drop after set was found to be 35.50 per cent and the major part of the drop occurred during the first thirty days. The fruit attained maturity in 130 to 140 days after fruit set. The developing fruits followed a sigmoid growth pattern. The chemical composition of the rind showed an increase in T. S .S. content till maturity. Total acidity increased upto 80 days after fruit set and showed a gradual decline towards ripening. Ascorbic acid content was also high in the initial stages and decreased towards maturity at ripening the rind of the fruits had on an average 6.68 per cent acidity, 7.2 mg/100 g ascorbic acid, 80 Brix T. S. S. and 1.04 per cent reducing sugar. The mucilage developed around the seed towards ripening had 2.04 per cent reducing sugar and 3.3 per cent acidity. There was a loss of 75 per cent fresh weight on drying. The trees varied for the number of fruits harvested.
Open Access
Flower bud differentiation in banana using tissue culture plants
(Department of Horticulture, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 1994) Biju, S V; KAU; Sajan, Kurian
The investigation on “Flower bud differentiation in banana using tissue culture plants” was done on two cultivars namely Robusta and Red Banana in the research plot attached to the National Agricultural Research Projects [Southern Region], Department of Horticulture, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, during the year 1992-93. The study was aimed at identifying the site, the time, the morphological, anatomical and physiological stages of flower bud differentiation. The various stages identified in the growth of banana plant are the early vegetative phase, the late vegetative phase, the transition phase, the bract differentiation, the hand differentiation and the differentiation of floral parts in both the cultivars. The vegetative phase last upto 195 days and 330 days after planting, whereas the transition phase occurred between 195-210 and 300-330 days after planting in case of Robusta and Red Banana respectively. The floral parts start differentiating from 210-225 days after planting and is completed by 240 days after planting in case of Robusta. In case of Red Banana, the floral parts start differentiating from 330-345 days after planting and the process gets completed by 360 days after planting. During the vegetative stage, the apical meristem is almost a flat dome with no internodes and the main function is the production of leaves. In the transition the dome gets raised, internodes appear and starts producing bracts instead of leaves, with axillary meristematic region which later differentiate into the hand and finally the flowers. Investigations on the morphological and physiological aspects in relation to flower bud differentiation revealed that the height, the girth, the total leaf number, leaf area of the diagnostic leaf, functional leaf area and the C/N ratio increases gradually till the completion phase in both the cultivars. But the rate of increment in height, girth and functional leaf area increased upto the transition phase. The number of functional leaves remained static from the late vegetative phase to the differentiation phase whereas the ‘D leaf’ area increment registered a decline at the transition and differentiation phases in both cultivars. The C/N ratio in leaves was found to sharply incresase during the transition and differentiation phases. The result of the investigation reveals the absolute and impending necessity to split the existing package recommendations of fertilizers and also to reschedule irrigation in tune with the various physiological phases for maximizing use efficiency and thereby increasing production and productivity.
Open Access
Performance of clone R R II 105 in Kuttanaad taluk of Alleppey district
(Department of Plantation Crops and Spices, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 1994) Mathew John; KAU; Prasannakumari Amma, S
An attempt was made to assess the performance of clone RRII 105 in Kuttanad taluk. Data were collected through personal contacts and interview with the help of a pretested interview schedule. For the study, all the units in Kuttanad were selected. The results revealed that garden lands were suitable for rubber cultivation because of the high fertility of the soil and conducive climatic features. The growers adopted a high population density per unit area. All the growers used clone RRII 105 for planting and majority used polybagged plants. The study also revealed that growth of plants were satisfactory even if the stand per hectare was high. Another interesting factor noted was that the fungal diseases were very negligible. Weed growth was found to be little due to prolonged floods (7 to 15 days) during July- August. The average yield obtained was high when compared to the national average. As the growers preferred high intensity tapping, tapping panel dryness showed an increasing trend. The study showed that the growers in this area are not strictly following the management practices recommended by the Rubber Board. The studies, thus indicated that rubber cultivation is economic and viable in garden lands of Kuttanad taluk. Field studies are to be initiated to find out the optimum population density per hectare and manorial practices for enhancing productivity in the taluk.

Kerala Agricultural University, Thrissur

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