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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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19854
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Subject: Horticulture × End date: 1985 × Start date: 1985 × Thesis Type: Ph.D ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Selection efficiency and genetic and biochemical bases of resistance to bacterial wilt in tomato
    (Department of Olericulture, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 1985) Rajan, S; KAU; Peter, K V
    Bacterial wilt (Pseudomona solanacearum E.F. Smith) is a major disease of tomato. Attempts were made to improve a reportedly resistant line CL 32d-0-1-19 GS for higher fruit weight and better plant type through four selection methods – mass, pureline, single seed descent and bulk. Genetic and biochemical bases of resistance were also studied. Resistance of the evolved line was tested in vivo and in vitro. Mass, pureline and SSD methods of selection were effective to improve fruits/plant, locules/fruit, yield/plant and fruit weight. SSD method resulted in higher realized genetic gain for fruits/plant (30.97) locules/fruit (0.5) and yield/plant (1.05 kg). Higher genetic advance and high realized heritability were recorded for days to first harvest in SSD selections. Mass selection had higher realized heritability (0.95) for fruits/plant and high realized heritability (0.65) and realized genetic gain (0.5) for locules/fruit. Fruit weight was improved through pure- line selection. Selections based on trait combination fruits/plant, yield/plant and plant height significantly effected higher locules/fruit (4.2). Selection based on trait combination fruits/plant, yield/plant, locules/fruit and plant height were the earliest to flower (59 days). Days to first harvest were significantly reduced (96 days) through selections based on fruit/plant and yield/plant followed by yield/plant and plant height (98 days). Fruit weight was significantly improved by selections based on yield/plant and locules/fruit (58.5 g). Selections based on yield/plant had high realized heritability (0.59) and realized genetic gain (22.0 g) for fruit weight. Fruit weight was significantly improved by selections based on yield/plant and locules/fruit under SSD method (62.4 g). Transgressive segregants appeared through selection based on yield/plant and locules/fruit. SSD selections had the lowest incidence of wilt (9.86%). Multi- locational trails revealed a survival of 89.5% of plants under normal disease stress. Evaluation of generations from LE79 (CL 32d-0-1-1-1-19GS) x Pusa Ruby Cross indicated a monogenic and incompletely dominant type of gene action for wilt resistance. There was no association between yellow gel colour around the seed and disease resistance. No close linkage between resistance and a fewer locules/fruit was observed. The resistant line (LE79-CL 32d-0-1-1-1-1-19 GS) had higher total and higher root content of Pusa Ruby. - tomatine than the susceptible line - Tomatine content increased and maintained at a higher level in resistant line eventhough the infection progressed consequent to artificial inoculation. Pusa Ruby wilted seven days after inoculation. Total phenol content was higher in roots of Pusa Ruby before and after inoculation. The wilted plants of Pusa Ruby had higher content in root and shoot. The O.D. phenols content was more in the resistant line before and after inoculation. Vitamin C content was also more in roots of LE79 before and after inoculation. A higher ratio of phenols and -tomatine: total phenols, -tomatine: O.D. -tomatine: vitamin C were found in roots of LE79 before inoculation. The wilted plants of Pusa Ruby had lower ration of -tomatine: total phenols and -tomatine: vitamin C. a higher increase in O.D. phenols and vitamin C content on infection was observed in resistant line. The ratio of vitamin C: total phenols was higher in roots of LE79 before infection and the ratio increased in both the lines initially on infection and then decreased but to a greater extent in Pusa Ruby. A higher increase in vitamin C content compared to total phenol was observed in LE79 on infection. A low ratio of total phenol: O.D. phenol was related to resistance in LE79. Inoculation in vitro confirmed the resistance of LE79 to Vellanikkara isolate of Pseudomonas solanacearum E.F. Smith. Grafting of suspectible scion on LE79 delayed wilting of scion even on artificial inoculation.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Intraclonal variations and nutritional studies in banana cv. Palayankodan
    (Department of Plantation Crops and Spices, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 1985) Rajeevan, P K; KAU; Mohanakumaran, N
    The investigations were carried out at the Banana Research Station, Kannara, during 1981-84 in the banana cv. 'Palayankodan'. Twenty four accessions were subjected to detailed analysis with respect to growth, yield and quality. The plants of the accessions differed significantly with regard to height and girth of pseudostem during the later stages of growth , both in the plant crop and in ratoon 1. Significant differences observed in the number of functional leaves were not consistent. Area of the third leaf at shooting varied significantly in all the three crops. The trend in variation between the crops, however, was not consistent. Interval of leaf production, total number of leaves produced and the density of stomata in the upper surface of the leaf lamina showed significant differences. The duration from planting to shooting in ratoon 1 alone varied significantly. The plant crop took more time than ratoon 1 and ratoon 2 to come to harvest. The content of nutrient elements in the index leaf did not exhibit significant variations. The reactionof the accessions to the important pest (rhizome weevil) and diseases (bunchytop and Sigatoke) varied considerably.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Inheritance of clusterness, destalkness and deep red colour in chilli [Capsicum annuum L.]
    (Department of Olericulture, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 1985) Gopalakrishnan, T R; KAU; Gopalakrishnan, P K
    The research project " inheritance of clusterness, destalkness and deep red colour in chilli (Capsicum annuum L.) was carried out at the College of Horticulture, Kerala Agricultural University, Vellanikkara, Trichur from July 1979 to September 1983. Preliminary evaluation of 38 chilli lines during 1979 and 46 lines during 1980 revealed considerable variation for most of the economic characters . Phenotypic coefficient of variation was the maximum for fruits/plant followed by fruit length and main stem length. High heritability coupled with high expected genetic advance was observed for fruit length and main stem length. Earliness measured as days to flower and days to red chilli harvest, though having high heritability , had only a very low expected genetic advance.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Standardisation of tissue/meristem culture techniques in important horticultural crops
    (Department of Plantation Crops and Spices, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 1985) Rajmohan, K; KAU; Mohanakumaran, N
    Attempts were made in the Plant Tissue Culture Laboratory of the College of Horticulture, during 1981-85 to standardize tissue culture techniques for the propagation of some of the important horticultural crops of Kerala. Explants from shoot apices of fresh stem sprouts of five year old jack (Artocarpus heterophyllus Lam.) trees registered a multiplication rate of 4.5 x when cultured for five weeks and produced 70% rooting (in 13.43 days) with 5.43 roots per shoot. The MS medium supplemented with GA 1.0ppm and activated charcoal 1.0% was identified as suitable for culture establishment, supporting the survival and initial growth of the explants. Benzyl adenine 5.0ppm was found to be the optimum cytokinin level for the production of fairly elongated multiple shoots and NAA 0.2ppm was identified as the optimum auxin level for supporting the growth of the cultures. The normal strength of the inorganic salts and organic growth factors of the MS medium, with 3 – 4% sucrose or 2 – 3% glucose was found to support the multiplication and growth of jack shoot cultures. GA3 did not influence the shoot proliferation or growth. Adenine sulphate at 20ppm was found to increase the multiplication rate by 27.3%, without affecting the growth of the cultures. Adenine as well as casein hydrolysate were found to be not beneficial. The Anderson’s medium was found to be unsuitable to support the proliferation and growth of jack shoot cultures. Serial subculturing for 10 times at 4 week interval was found to increase the multiplication rate to 5.39x. The MS medium supplemented with BA 2.0ppm, NAA 0.2ppm and insoluble PVP 500ppm was found to be suitable for shoot elongation. Half strength of the MS inorganic salts, full strength of the MS organic factors, 3% sucrose and 0.6% agar were found to be the optimum for the in vitro rooting of jack shoot cultures. When planted out, the plantlets were observed to have 55.6% survival. Callus production was made possible from explants of shoot apices, internodal segments, leaf segments and root apices. Efforts to induce re-differentiation in the callus, direct organogenesis and direct/callus mediated somatic embryogenesis were not successful. Shoot apices from the seedlings registered a multiplication rate of 17.4x. In this case, the percentage of rooting was 100, with 6.0 roots formed in 20.75 days. Explants from fresh stem sprouts of ten year old and thirty year old trees recorded a shoot multiplication rate of 2.8 and 2.09, respectively in five weeks. In the former, the rooting percentage was 40 with 2.5 roots produced in 24 days, after 2-3 subcultures. In the latter, there was 15% rooting with 2.0 roots formed in 46.7 days, after 2-3 subcultures. Explants from six-month old jack grafts failed to produce multiple shoots and exhibited 50% rooting with 2.0 roots formed in 20.5 days. Cytological examination revealed the stability of chromosome number in the plantlets. Anatomical studies revealed the presence of thin culture in the leaves of the young plantlets. The procedure for the in vitro clonal propagation of jack through the enhanced release of axillary buds involved agitating the surface sterilised shoot apices in a solution of 0.7% insoluble PVP + 2% sucrose for 30-45 minutes and keeping them in sterile water at 4-50C for 24 hours followed by disinfection (3% sodium hypochlorite solution for 5 minutes and 0.1% mercuric chloride solution for 10 minutes) and culture in the establishment medium (MS + GA 1.0ppm + activated charcoal 1.0%) in darkness for four weeks with repeated subculturing. The cultures were then exposed to light for two weeks, after which the growing shoot apices were transferred to the proliferation medium (MS + BA 5.0ppm + NAA 0.2ppm + adenine sulphate 20ppm + insoluble PVP 500ppm). Shoots from the proliferation medium were transferred after five weeks to an elongation medium (MS + BA 2.0ppm + NAA 0.2ppm + insoluble PVP 500ppm). The shoots were then cultured on MS medium containing activated charcoal 1.0% for two weeks. For the in vitro root induction, the shoots were cultured in darkness in 1⁄2 MS + IBA 2.0ppm + NAA 2.0ppm + sucrose 3% + agar 0.6% (for 6 days) and then transferred to 1⁄2 MS without growth substances for root elongation. Just after the appearance of the roots, the plantlets were hardened by exposure to high light intensity (3500 lux) for one week. The plantlets were than transferred to vermiculture medium, under high relative humidity (90-100%) provided by microscope covers. The plants were watered with a solution of the MS inorganic salts at half strength. After another gradual hardening process and as new leaves were produced, the plantlets were transferred to garden pots and kept in the open field conditions. The cost of production of one jack plantlet, including one month’s hardening was worked out to Rs.9.09. Explants of mussaenda (Mussaenda ervthrophylla Schum. Thonn.) were effectively surface sterilized by treating with 0.1% mercuric chloride solution for 15 minutes. The suitable culture establishment medium was identified as MS + BA 0.5ppm + kinetin 0.5ppm. A shoot multiplication rate of 2.75x was realized in a period of four weeks on MS medium supplemented with BA 0.5ppm and kinetin 0.5ppm. Sub- culturing was found to increase the multiplication rate to 2.95x. Full strength of the MS inorganic salts was found to support the proliferation and growth of mussaenda shoot cultures. Adenine sulphate, auxins and Anderson’s medium were found to be not beneficial. The shoots were made to root on MS medium containing half strength of the inorganic salts and full strength of the organic growth factors, 3% sucrose, 0.6% agar, 0.4ppm IBA and 0.4ppm NAA, under dark conditions in 37 days. Anderson’s rooting medium was found to be inefficient for the in vitro rooting of mussaenda shoot cultures. Attempts for planting out were not successful, probably due to the low number of roots (which were weak and slender), the development of callus at the root-shoot junction and the partial withering and yellowing of the shoots by the time the roots were initiated. Attempts for the direct planting out of the shoots pretreated with IBA solution were not successful. Segments of ovary wall was identified as the best source of explant for callus production, registering a callus index value of 400, at the best treatment (NAA/kinetin combinations 2.0 + 1.0ppm and 4.0 + 2.0ppm). Shoot regeneration from the callus occurred at a frequency of 33.3% on MS medium supplemented with BA 2.0ppm or BA/kinetin combinations 0.5 + 0.5ppm and 0.5 + 0.3ppm. Root regeneration was observed at a frequency of 66.7% with 13.33 roots per culture on MS medium containing kinetin/NAA combination 2.0 + 8.0ppm after 60 days’ culture. Attempts for direct organogenesis were not successful. Globular structures resembling somatic embryoids having simultaneous root and shoot development were observed when the callus from the induction medium (MS + 2,4-D 2.0ppm + kinetin 1.0ppm) was transferred to MS medium containing BA/kinetin combinations 0.5 + 0.5ppm or 1.0 + 0.5ppm after 70 to 73 days culture. About 4.5 shoots with a tuft of miniature roots were formed per culture, at the best treatment. Attempts for inducing direct somatic embryogenesis were not successful. Preliminary studies on culture establishment were made for breadfruit (Artocarpus altilis L.) and nutmeg (Myristica Fragrans Houtt.). Slight callus production was made possible in both the cases. Preliminary studies on somatic organogenesis were made in the case of pepper (Piper nigrum L.). Callus production and redifferentiation were observed.