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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: Soumya, S Dharan × End date: 2020 × Start date: 2010 × Thesis Type: M.Sc ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Development and use of SSR markers for analysis of genetic diversity and correlation with lignin content in cardamom (Elettaria cardamomum Maton) Germplasm
    (College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 2014) Soumya, S Dharan; KAU; Sabu, K K
    The research work entitled “Development and use of SSR markers for analysis of genetic diversity and correlation with lignin content in cardamom (Elettaria cardamomum Maton) germplasm” was carried out at Biotechnology and Bioinformatics division of Jawaharlal Nehru Tropical Botanic Garden and Research Institute (JNTBGRI), Palode during 2013-14. India has rich genetic diversity of cardamom and this diversity might be the product of complex interactions between genetic and environmental factors. Understanding the footprints of divergence underlying the formation of various morphotypes/landraces is important for developing sustainable and high quality cardamom varieties. The study aims to analyse the natural variation inherent in the cardamom genome using microsatellite (simple sequence repeats, SSR) markers and test correlation with lignin content which is an important quantitative trait often attributed to pest tolerance characteristics. Lignin is a phenolic polymer which is required for mechanical support, water transport and defence in vascular plants. The insolubility and complexity of lignin polymer makes it resistant to degradation by most microorganisms. Therefore, lignin has a very vital role in plant defence and it may be hypothesized that cardamom plants with high lignin content exhibit improved pest resistance. Eighteen accessions including wild collections, landraces, and released varieties were selected for the present study. Twenty SSR primers were developed for cardamom and genetic diversity was analysed. Quantity of lignin was estimated and subjected to correlation analysis with genetic parameters. The lignin content has shown considerable level of variation among different accessions and the study clearly demonstrated existence of genetic diversity in various cardamom samples. The accessions were grouped into two, based on low and high lignin content. Statistical analysis revealed significant level of correlation between the lignin content and genetic diversity. Parameters such as observed homozygosity showed 70 and 67% correlation with low and high lignin groups. This correlation can be further elaborated to quantitative trait loci (QTL) studies for possible identification of alleles determining lignin content in cardamom and eventually help to breed elite cardamom lines with high lignin content.