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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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19871
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Subject: Horticulture × Author: Mallika, V K × End date: 1987 × Thesis Type: Ph.D ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Genome analysis in the genus Amatanthus
    (Department of Olericulture, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 1987) Mallika, V K; KAU; Peter, K V
    Cytogenetical studies on eight Amananthiu species, viz., A. inicot-Qn./ A. JUvvduA/ A. vajujcLaa, A, ApAnoAUA, A, cLliAallA, A,hypochondmacuA, A. cnuentuA and/4, caudaiiu and their hydrids were undertaken to understand their genome relationship, phylogeny and evolution. The development and arrangement of flower cluster In AmcuiardhuA were analysed microscopically and discussed in detail. A simple provisional key was developed for Identification of the eight species as the existing keys were complex and confusing. The eight species were also evaluated for their photoperiodlc requirements and antinutritional factors. Meiotic studies revealed that members of section Blitopsis had x = 17 while section Amaranthus had x = 16 and 17. A.duLuu a polyploid with n = 32 behaved as an allopolyploid. Mean number of chiasmata/bivalent was maximum in the cultivated species and minimum in the semiwild species, A ,apaiioaua which also had maximum number of rod bivalents. Pollen grains of varying sizes (Macro and medium) were observed In all the species. The cultivated species were characterised by bigger chromosomes and pollen grains. Interspecific hybridization was attempted in all possible combinations but many of the crosses failed. A few failed crosses exhibited seedling mortality. Seven interspecific hybrids grew and flowered and these included hybrids within and between sections Blitopsis and Amaranthus. A .IavaduA x. A, ioAcolon. the only interspecific hybrid within Blitopsis resembled mostly the male parent but was highly sterile. Cytologlcal studies revealed the presence of two or more Interchanges involving 3-6 chromosomes and subsequent melotic abnormalities resulted in 90% pollen sterility. The interspecific hybrids within section Amaranthus included A.^p-moAiUyA^nHinA A , ApmoALLb x A.hypochoncbuxLCLU,, A ,4 p m o 4 iu x A , c a u d a iiu t A, A p in o itu x A, c A u & n iiu , and A, c A ii& n tiu x A. c a u d a iiu . The hybrid A .c /u ie n iiu x A,caudaiiu produced only female flowers in the stunted and deformed hybrid plant. Other hybrids exhibited a preponderance of AupinoAtu characters indicated by presence of spines, reduction in inflorescence size, distinct placement of male and female flowers etc. Cytological studies revealed the presence of 1-2 multivalents including 3-4 chromosomes, moderate frequency of bivalents, and a low frequency of univalents in the hybrids. Chromosomal repatterning through translocations and inversions are also involved in speciation within both sections Blitopsis and Amaranthus. A, 6p u \.0Auu x A, v ia m L u , the first success of hybridization between the two sections resulted in a short and sturdy hybrid plant with dominating A.qunoMu characters. Cytological studies revealed that PMCs had high frequency of bivalents and only low frequency of univalents. The complete absence of multivalents indicated that cryptic structural changes and genetic drift are only involved In the cytogenetic differentiation of 2 the two species. D analysis of data of chromosome associations In interspecific hybrids at metaphase I indicate the clustering of hybrids within and between sections under the same group. This as well as morphological studies questions the validity of the naturalness of the two sections in AmaAO/iiJvu, The 40 accessions available in the germplasm were classified into different species based on detailed cytomorphological studies. Twenty one species were ascribed to A, four to A. d u J L u u and 15 to A. h y p o c h o n d b u j a c iiA , The reasons for low seed recovery in the A ,b u £ .o £ o A . accession A- were also studied. Investigations on photoperiodic response of the different species indicated that there is precocious flowering with increase in photoperiod in A. h y p o c h o r u d j u x L c i u , A, riidLuu and A, A p A n o A t u , Flowering was delayed with more light in A, cniirlatiu, and A, iju.c.o&QJi while A, cAuentu& and A, v u u x L l a were photoinsensitive. The content of antinutrient factors in the tender leaf and stem varied from 3.60 to 5.10% for oxalate and 0.295 to 0.695% for nitrate in the different species. In general Blitopsis had higher content of antinutrients than section Amaranthus, the only exception being A, A p .in .o A u A of section Amaranthus. The primitiveness of A ,apjjioaua was evident from the present studies. This pantropical cosmopolitan weed has played a major role in the evolution of otherAmoAaniAuAspp. Evidences were also obtained on the origin of vegetable amaranths from grain amaranths.