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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: Priyakumari, I × End date: 2009 × Start date: 2001 × Type: Thesis × Thesis Type: Ph.D ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Enhancement of in vitro propagation efficiency and induction of polyploidy in orchids
    (College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 2009) Priyakumari, I; KAU; Sabina, George T
    Studies were conducted at the Department of Pomology and Floriculture and theDepartment of Plant Biotechnology, College of Agriculture, Vellayani during 2005 - 2008 to enhance the in vitro propagation efficiency and induction of polyploidy in orchids. Commercially important Dendrobium cultivars such as Rungnappa Red, Miss Snow White and Earsakul were selected for the present study. The effects of explant, plant growth regulators, basal culture medium and media supplements during various stages of in vitro propagation were studied. The effect of colchicine in inducing polyploidy under in vitro condition was also studied. Stem nodal explants from kiekies were identified as the best explant for the initial culture establishment of the selected Dendrobium cultivars. Varietal difference in response to plant growth regulators and media supplements was significant among the three cultivars. Half MS medium was found the best basal medium with respect to earliness in bud initiation as well as maximum number of shoots produced. Half MS medium supplemented with kinetin 2.0 mg l-1 + NAA 0.1 mg l-1 gave early bud initiation in cv. Rungnappa Red where as the combination of kinetin 1.0 mg l-1 + NAA 0.1 mg l-1 gave early bud initiation in cv. Miss Snow White. In cv. Earsakul, BA at 4.0 mg l-1 gave early bud initiation. In multiple shoot production stage, in cv. Rungnappa Red, BA 1.0 mg l-1 + NAA 0.1 - 0.5 mg l-1 gave maximum number of shoots. In cv. Miss Snow White maximum number of shoots were observed in BA 0.5 mg l-1 + NAA 0.5 mg l-1 and in cv. Earsakul maximum number of shoots were observed in kinetin 2.0 mg l-1 + NAA 0.1 mg l-1. CW at 200 ml l-1 was found superior with respect to early bud initiation and maximum shoot production in all the three varieties. CH at 1000 mg l-1 gave maximum shoot production in cv. Earsakul. Sucrose at 60.0 g l-1 recorded maximum number of shoots in cv. Rungnappa Red while sucrose at 30.0 g l-1 recorded maximum number of shoots in cv. Miss Snow White. Activated charcoal at 0.5 g l-1 was found beneficial in all the three varieties. The effective concentration of polyamine, spermine for maximum shoot production was at 1.0 mM, 0.5 mM and 1.0 mM in cvs. Rungnappa Red, Miss Snow White and Earsakul respectively. The effective concentration of polyamine, spermidine for maximum shoot production was at 1.0 mM in cvs. Rungnappa Red and Miss Snow White. The optimum concentration of steroid plant growth regulator 28- HBL, that gave maximum shoot numbers in cvs. Rungnappa Red, Miss Snow White and Earsakul were 0.5 mg l-1, 2.0 mg l-1 and 4.0 mg l-1 respectively. Early root initiation in cv. Rungnappa Red as well as in cv. Miss Snow White was observed at 0.5 mg l-1 IBA, and in cv. Earsakul, at 0.5 mg l-1 NAA. The planting out media comprising charcoal and brick pieces in equal proportion gave maximum survival rate in all the three varieties. Shoots regenerated from 0.1 % colchicine treated stem nodes of Miss. Snow White for 5 days were observed to have unusual morphology characterized by slow growing shoots with reduced internodes and thicker and greener leaves.