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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: Integrated Biotechnology × Author: Achuth, J Sankar × End date: 2020 × Start date: 2010 × Thesis Type: M.Sc ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Cryopreservation of Vanda wightii Rchb.f protocorms
    (College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 2014) Achuth, J Sankar; KAU; William, Decruse
    Investigations on cryopreservation of protocorms of Vanda wightii Rchb.f an endangered orchid of Western Ghats was carried out to devise a protocol for long-term conservation of their germplasm. The commonly used techniques encapsulation- dehydration and vitrification methods were compared. Cryopreservation using encapsulation-dehydration gave maximum 36.1 per cent regeneration when one-step preculture was done in 0.5 M for 2 days and dehydrated for 4h. Optimum moisture content to get maximum recovery was 9.00 – 14%. Preculture in 0.5M sucrose for one day followed by 0.75M sucrose for one day did not improve regeneration of cryopreserved protocorms. Protocorms precultured in presence of 3 per cent DMSO did not recover after cryopreservation. Vitrification method tried as an alternative method gave 37.4 per cent regeneration when the protocorms were exposed to PVS2 for 2h prior to LN treatment. Exposure to PVS2 for more than 2h was detrimental to the protocorms so that Only 12.50 and 9.17 of the protocorms exposed for 3h and 4h period regenerated. Exposure to loading solution for 1h seems to give 34.95% regeneration after LN treatment suggesting that loading solution treatment alone is sufficient to cryoprotect the protocorms to get successful recovery after cryopreservation. Even though regeneration rates obtained through different methods are almost equal, consistent results and efficient direct plant regeneration make the vitrification method advantageous over encapsulation-dehydration method. Thus vitrification method is suggested as an efficient method for protocorm cryopreservation for germplasm conservation of V. wightii .