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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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ThesisItem Open Access Divergence studies in pumpkin (Cucurbita moschata Pair)(Department of Olericulture, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 1989) Suresh Babu, V; KAU; Gopalakrishnan, T RThe present investigation on "Divergence studies in pumpkin (Cucurbita moschat a Poir ) was conducted at the College of Horticulture , Vellanikkara, Trissur during June 1988 - Marc h 1989. Seventy one pumpkin genotypes collected from different part of India and abroad were utilized for the study. The extent of variability and divergence among 50 selected genotypes were assessed and grouped into 5 clusters based on Mahalanobis D2 statistic . Cluster I, II, III, I V and V contained 2, 7, 9, 12 and 20 genotypes respectively y . Intercluster distance was maximum between clusters I and II and was minimum between clusters III and V . Cluster I showed maximum average intercluster distance with any other cluster. Screening 71 genotypes for resistance/ tolerance to pumpkin mosaic and yellow vein mosaic diseases revealed that all genotypes except C M 214 were susceptible. Artificial inoculation studies confirmed immunity of C M 214 (Nigerian Iocal ) to pumpkin mosaic virus and yellow vein mosaic virus .ThesisItem Open Access Studies on fertility status of rubber growing soils of Palakkad district(Department of Plantation Crops and Spices, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 1991) Mohanan, V; KAU; Nazeem, P AThesisItem Open Access Studies on growth and bearing habits of certain varieties of bhendi (Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench.)with special reference to fruit maturity and quality(Regional post-graduate training centre, Agricultural college and research institute, Coimbatore., 1964) Ravindra, K; KAUThesisItem Open Access Investigations on intervarietal F2 hybrids in cowpea(Department of Agricultural Botany, College of Horticulture Vellanikkara, Trichur, 1981) Sumathikutty Amma, B; KAU; Narayanan Namboodiri, K MCcwpea (Vlgna ungiculata) Is the major pulse crop cultivated in Kerala where the average yield of pulses in general and Cowpea in particular is very low even under modern agronomic practices* This low productivity is mainly due to the absence of high yielding varieties suited for the different agro-climatic conditions. The varietal requirements in Cowpea, in the state vary because of the highly contrasting system of cultivation and this compels Cowpea breeders to evolve varieties of different combinations of plant, pod and seed characters, This is possible by producing different varieties combining the desirable attributes required for the diverse situations by suitable means. One of the ways by which, this can be achieved is through combination breeding in which desirable genes are pooled frcra different sources* In a previous study conducted in the Department of Agricultural Botany, the 202 genotypes v/ere grouped into 17 distinct clusters. Representing 15 clusters, 15 varieties were chosen for intervarietal hybridisation and their F^'s evaluated during 1979-80, Seeds collected from the plants of the 16 Intervariota] crosses along with their parents were used for the study. Two families In each of the 16 crosses were studied along with their respective parents for the pattern of inheritance of 15 economic characters. Most of the characters were found to be inherited as quantitative characters controlled by either polygenes or by a few major genes with their action being suitably modified by minor genes. The crosses 5 x 15 (g p .p l s . 139 x p .118) and 6 X 8 (Red Seeded Selection X Kolingipayar) were identified as suitable ones for grain - production and also for using as dual purpose Cowpea culture since they might throw segregants best suited to those purposes. For the specialised system of Cot/pea culture practised in summer rice fallows exclusively for vegetable purpose, the crosses 14 X 16 (Pannithodan-early X Kolingipayarwhite), 17 X 16 (Mancheri-black X Kolingipayar^hite) and 10 X 6 (IC. 20729 X Red Seeded Selection) appeared to be the Ideal ones*ThesisItem Open Access Molecular characterization of piper species usiing RAPD technique(Department of Plantation Crops and Spices, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 2002) Murugan, C; KAU; Sujatha, V SThe study on "Molecular characterization of Piper species using RAPD techniques" was conducted in the Department of Plantation Crops and Spices and CPBMB, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, Thrissur from December, 1999 to August, 2001. Material included 13 species/accessions of the genus Piper including Piper nigrutn Linn. These were analysed with 20 selected oligomer decamer primers using PCR technique and agarose gel electrophoresis. The selection of ideal DNA isolation technique was done based on observations of purity of bands, quality of the DNA bands and quantity of DNA recovered. The protocol of Edwards et al. (1991) was selected for DNA isolation with additional step of chloroform-isoamyl alcohol treatment. Fifty decamer primers were screened using DNA. of P. nigrum and 20 were selected based on the number of bands produced, reproducibility of the bands and distinctness of the RAPD profile. RAPD profile of the 13 species of Piper were compared for genetic similarity index (using Jaccard's coefficient), with all 20 selected primers separately. Pooled similarity of the twenty primers put together was found out for 9 species which gave amplification for all the 20 selected primers. The results of pooled analysis was subjected to cluster analysis (SAl-IN) and phenetic dcndrogram was constructed employing UPGMA. Four clusters were obtained, comprising of two accessions of P. nigrum In the first, two accessions of P. longum in the second, P. colubrinutn and P. attenuatum forming the third cluster and P. chaba, P. belle and P. arboreum forming the fourth.ThesisItem Open Access Development of inbreds in bitter gourd (momordica charantia L.) through conventional and biotechnological approaches(Department of Vegetable Science, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 2020) Reshmika, P K; KAU; Pradeepkumar, TDevelopment of inbreds in bitter gourd (Momordica charantia L.) through conventional and biotechnological approaches Name of the student: Reshmika P.K. Major Advisor: Dr. Pradeepkumar T. Admission No.: 2015-22-006 ABSTRACT The present investigation was undertaken to develop superior inbred lines in bitter gourd through advance generation selection of F1 hybrids and biotechnological approaches through pollination of irradiated pollen and embryo rescue. The experiment was conducted at the Department of Vegetable Science, College of Horticulture, Kerala Agricultural University during the year 2016-2018. Performance evaluation of sixteen hybrids and five varieties (control) of bitter gourd was conducted and five promising hybrids, MC-142, MC-136, MC-139, MC-138 and MC-133, were selected based on the cumulative index. These hybrids were advanced to F2 and F3 generation. Yield contributing characters such as average fruit weight, fruit diameter, fruit girth, flesh thickness and number of harvests were significantly increased in F3 generation compared to its F2 in MC-138 and MC-139. Fruit length, relative early yield and yield per plant showed a significant increase in F3 compared to its F2 in MC-138. Fruit length, number of fruits per plant, yield per plant and number of harvests have significantly reduced in F3 generation of MC-136 compared to its F2 generation. Nonsignificant variance was observed between F2 and F3 generations of all hybrids for majority of the yield contributing characters. Lower range in the subsequent generation is an indication of attainment of uniformity for these characters. Negative value of response to selection for earliness parameters have indicated an improvement in the characters in F3 generation through selection in F2. Judicious selection in F2 generation led to a positive response to selection for yield contributing characters in most of the hybrids. The difference between genotypes with respect to its response to selection was apparent. Yield per plant, fruit length, fruit weight and relative early yield have shown negative value for response to selection on MC-136 and MC-133. F2 and F3 generations of all hybrids showed positive value of selection differential for all the yield contributing characters. Positive value of inbreeding depression for nodes to first male and female flower in F3 generation and cumulative inbreeding depression for most of the hybrids indicated that the improvement in earliness parameters are in a desirable direction, producing male and female flowers at earlier nodes. Inbreeding led to a reduction in the number of days taken for fruit maturity from anthesis in all hybrids. Even though inbreeding depression was observed in F2 generation, an increase in per se performance was noticed in F3 generation of hybrids, MC-142, MC-138 and MC-139 for most of the yield contributing characters. But MC-136 and MC-133 could not regain its potential in F3 through advance generation selection for most of the characters. Loss in vigour after inbreeding was observed for yield per plant, relative early yield per plant, number of harvests and fruit length in MC-136 and MC-133. After successive self pollination, MC-136 also had shown a reduction in flesh thickness and the number of fruits per plant. Desirable economic segregants were chosen based on earliness and yield contributing characters. Per cent of economic segregants for days to first harvest was the maximum in F2 (64.71 %) (48.00-56.00 days) and F3 generations (100%) (46.00-59.00 days) of the hybrid MC-136. Per cent of economic segregants for yield per plant was the highest in MC-136 (58.82%) (3.54-6.50 kg per plant) and MC-138 (53.19%) (3.83-6.57 kg per plant) in F2 and F3 generations, respectively. Selected segregants can be fixed through inbreeding and selection. An efficient protocol for in vitro haploid embryo culture was standardized in bitter gourd. Pollen from irradiated flowers was used for pollinating female flowers. All irradiation doses from 10 to 100 Gy induced fruit set in the hybrid MC-139. The mean number of seeds and embryos per fruit decreased significantly as the irradiation dose increased. Treatment T10 (100 Gy) failed to produce embryos and all seeds were empty. The results showed that 90 Gy was the best irradiation dose and 15 days after pollination was the best stage of embryo rescue for haploid recovery. The in vitro seed germination in E20A medium was best for embryo culture.Addition of activated charcoal (3g/ L) in E20A medium has enhanced the root initiation. The highest percentage of successful plants after 20 days of hardening was noticed in control (81.57 %) followed by T1 (79.10 %), T2 (71.18 %), T3 (70.90 %) and T4 (69.04 %). Significant difference was observed for the plant under the treatment T9 with respect to size of guard cell, pollen grain diameter and number of chloroplasts per guard cell compared to the plants under the treatments T0 to T8. The guard cells in haploid plants had 16.23 micron length, 4.66 micron width, 37.34 micron pollen grain diameter, and contained 6.83 chloroplasts whereas guard cells in diploids had 19.50 to 20.20 micron length, 5.38 to 5.73 micron width, 67.41 to 69.62 micron pollen grain diameter and 11.58 to 12.42 chloroplasts. All other treatments except T9 (90 Gy) produced stainable pollen which indicated the normal diploid nature of plants. Plant developed through pollination with irradiated pollen of 90 Gy (T9) produced only sterile pollen. Moreover, seed set was not observed when it was self pollinated which can be attributed to the haploid (n) status of the plant. Others were showing diploid ploidy level (T0 to T8). The present protocol is a successful strategy for generating haploids in bitter gourd. In conclusion, results show that inbreeding and selection are efficient to improve the earliness and yield characters in bitter gourd. Pollination by gamma irradiated pollen can induce haploid embryo development in bitter gourd and this is the first successful report in bitter gourd on this aspect.ThesisItem Open Access Yield improvement in tranplanted ginger by seed priming and biostimulant spray(Department of Plantation Crops and Spices, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 2020) Ann Sneha, Baby; KAU; Jalaja Menon, SGinger (Zingiber officinale Rosc.) is a herbaceous spice acclaimed for its value in flavour and pharmaceutical industry. A dearth in availability of healthy and good quality planting material is well pronounced in ginger. Hence, a transplant technique, utilizing ginger sprouts raised from small rhizome bits of 3 to 5 g grown in protrays, has been proven to yield on par with conventional planting of 20 g seed rhizome. In such cases, methods to improve vigour and growth of ginger plants, which can result in yield enhancement are highly desirable. The present study, ‘Yield improvement in transplanted ginger by seed priming and biostimulant spray’ was conducted in the Department of Plantation Crops and Spices, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara during January 2019 to January 2020 to find out the best priming treatment, optimum concentration of chitosan spray and a combination of both, that improve fresh rhizome yield in transplanted ginger. In nursery, priming treatments significantly invigorated the growth of sprouts, as evident by the early emergence, high survival per cent and seed vigour index. The emergence of sprouts were early in rhizomes primed with Pseudomonas fluorescens 10 g L-1 for 0.5 hour (6.33 days) followed by hydropriming for one hour (6.83 days). Hydropriming and priming with ethephon 200 ppm for one hour resulted in significantly superior survival per cent of 85.16 and 84.16 respectively. Significantly higher vigour index of seed rhizome was noticed in sprouts subjected to hydropriming and bioprimed with Pseudomonas fluorescens (3167.95 and 3011.99 respectively). Plant height and tiller production were significantly higher in plants raised from hydroprimed seed rhizome and given foliar sprays of biostimulant chitosan 5 g L-1 at monthly interval for five months, resulting in 74.77 cm height and 16.97 tillers. Invariably, plants subjected to priming or chitosan spray or a combination of both were significantly taller with more number of tillers. Photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance and transpiration rate were significantly higher in hydroprimed plants (23.75 µmol m-2 s-1, 2.69 µmol m-2 s-1, 13.67 mmol m-2 s-1 respectively) and in plants sprayed with chitosan 5 g L-1 (23.83 µmol m-2 s-1, 2.78 µmol m-2 s-1, 13.07 mmol m-2 s-1 respectively). Leaf area of ginger was found to be highest in plants primed with Pseudomonas fluorescens (30.76 cm2), hydropriming (29.68 cm2) and Trichoderma sp. (29.17 cm2). Monthly spraying of chitosan 7 g L-1 was found effective for improving leaf area (30.71 cm2) compared to control (26.72 cm2). Significantly lowest incidence of Phyllosticta leaf spot was observed in plants sprayed with chitosan 7 g L-1 (25.65%) and 5 g L-1 (30.79%), irrespective of the priming treatments. Priming and chitosan sprays exhibited significant improvement in fresh rhizome yield of ginger transplants. Significantly highest number of fingers was found in plants sprayed with 5 g L-1 chitosan (12.12). Invariably, all priming treatments were effective in improving the number of fingers. A combination of hydropriming and field spraying of chitosan 5 g L-1 (337.20 g plant-1), biopriming with Pseudomonas fluorescens along with sprays of chitosan 7 g L-1 (335.58 g plant-1) and biopriming with Pseudomonas fluorescens with field spraying of chitosan 5 g L-1 (334.35 g plant-1) were identified as the best three combinations for yield improvement in ginger transplants. All the priming treatments and chitosan sprays recorded significantly higher fresh rhizome yield than the control. From this study, it is evident that priming of seed rhizomes and foliar application of chitosan can be adopted to improve yield in transplanted ginger. A combined application of priming and foliar sprays of chitosan was found more effective than the individual effect of priming and chitosan. Hence, combination of priming with Pseudomonas fluorescens 10 g L-1 for 30 minutes or hydropriming for one hour, followeThesisItem Open 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, BCoscinium 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.ThesisItem Open Access Standardization of package of practices for leaf coriander (Coriandrum sativum L.) under rain shelter(Department of Plantation and Crops and Spices, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 2020) Anjukrishna, V U; KAU; Mini Raj, NCoriander (Coriandrum sativum L.) is an annual seed as well as herbal spice which belongs to the family Apiaceae. Whole part of the plant possesses specific aroma and flavour. Apart from the use of coriander as a flavouring and preservative agent, consumption of coriander leaves have multiple health benefits too. Coriander cultivation is confined to specific regions as it needs cool and dry climate for flowering and seed set. But for leaf purpose, cultivation is possible in non-conventional areas too with the advent of protected cultivation under rainshelter. The present study entitled “Standardization of package of practices for leaf coriander (Coriandrum sativum L.) under rainshelter” was carried out in the Dept. of Plantation Crops and Spices, College of Horticulture, Kerala Agricultural University during July 2019 to March 2020 with four experiments to standardize seed treatment, spacing, manurial schedule and harvest maturity of coriander . Two varieties viz. CO-4 and Theni Local were used in the study and all the experiments were conducted in two seasons ie July-September and October - December. Results indicated that presowing seed treatments can be adopted in coriander as priming of seeds significantly enhanced the sprouting, growth and yield. Hydropriming for 24 h and seed treatment with 50 mg L-1 GA3 for 8 h enhanced the growth, yield and quality of both the varieties. Priming with NAA for 8 h and hydropriming for 12 h also improved the growth and yield of coriander than untreated seeds. Highest vitamin C content in CO-4 and Theni Local was recorded in seed treatment with 50 mg L-1 GA3 for 8 h and hydropriming for 24 h respectively. Medium spacing of 20 cm x 10 cm significantly increased the single plant biomass and herbage yield in coriander variety CO-4, whereas closer spacing of 10 cm x 10 cm spacing was found to be the best spacing for Theni Local. Highest herbage yield and biomass yield of CO-4 (683.43 g m-2 and 653.00 g m-2) as well as Theni Local (1477.57 g m-2 and 1448.00 g m-2) from unit area was obtained from the closer spacing which accommodated maximum number of plants per unit area. Vitamin C content in CO-4 was highest in closer as well as medium spacings in both the varieties compared to wider spacing. Growth parameters such as plant height and number of leaves and, yield parameters such as biomass (10.27 g plant-1) and herbage (10.04 g plant-1) yield were highest with the application of 5 t ha-1 FYM alone followed by 2.5 t ha-1 vermicompost alone in the variety CO-4. The vitamin C content of CO-4 was highest in the plants supplemented with basal application of 2.5 t ha-1 vermicompost (65.78 mg per 100g). A fertilizer schedule of 5 t ha-1 FYM+20:10:10 kg ha-1 NPK+ 1.5 per cent urea (foliar) was found to the best for improving the biomass (14.30 g plant-1), herbage (13.96 g plant-1) and vitamin C content (87.05 mg per 100g) in the variety Theni Local. The harvest maturity was indicated by emergence of serrated leaf. The plants of CO-4 entered to reproductive phase by the emergence of serrated leaf on 37 DAS and completed the life cycle within 75 DAS. Harvest maturity of CO4 for leaf purpose was concluded as 40 DAS. The variety Theni Local exhibited infinite growth and the crop was harvested at 60 DAS for leaf purpose. The harvesting on 60th day exhibited a percentage increase of 35.89 per cent in herbage yield from 40th day yield. Quality parameters were also found to be highest at 60th day harvest. Irrespective of the seed treatments, spacing, fertilizer schedule and harvest maturity, both the varieties performed well during during October – December under rainshelter. There was 5.06 and 1.72 fold increase in herbage yield of CO-4 and Theni Local respectively during October – December. The quality parameters were also found to be highest during the same season. The best treatments in all experiments and October – December season was found to be the best combination in both the varieties for getting better growth, yield and quality coriander leaves. From this study, it was concluded that the early variety CO-4 and late variety Theni Local are suitable for rainshelter cultivation. Presowing seed treatments with 50 mg L-1 GA3 for 8 h and hydropriming for 24 h are effective for both the varieties to improve growth and yield. A closer spacing of 10 x 10 cm can be adopted in both the varieties for getting maximum yield from unit area. Basal application organic fertilizer such as 5 t ha-1 FYM and 2.5 t ha-1 vermicompost alone is enough for better performance of CO-4. The fertilizer schedule of 5 t ha-1 FYM+ 20:10:10 kg ha-1 NPK+ 1.5 per cent urea (foliar) at 20 DAS is best for Theni Local. Harvest at 40 DAS and 60 DAS respectively is ideal in CO-4 and Theni local for getting maximum herbage yield. The ideal season for coriander cultivation under rainshelter is October – December in Kerala.
