Thumbnail Image

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.

Browse

20201
Reset filters
Subject: Nematology × Author: Jithoop, D × Start date: 2010 ×
Reset filters

Search Results

Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
  • Thumbnail Image
    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Evaluation of native isolates of nematode antagonistic fungi against meloidogyne incognita(Kofoid and White) chitwood in tomato
    (Department of Nematology, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 2020) Jithoop, D; KAU; Narayana, R
    An investigation entitled “Evaluation of native isolates of nematode antagonistic fungi against Meloidogyne incognita (Kofoid and White) Chitwood in tomato” was carried out at Department of Nematology, College of Agriculture, Vellayani during 2017-2019. The objective was to get native isolates of nematode antagonistic fungi and evaluate its bio-control potential against Meloidogyne incognita and growth promotion. A survey was conducted in six Taluks of Thiruvananthapuram districts during 2017-18 for isolation of indigenous fungi. Twenty soil and root samples were collected from the rhizosphere of vegetable crops like bhindi, tomato, chilly, cucumber and cowpea grown in each taluk by random sampling. Preliminary screening of 32 fungal colonies showing characteristics similar to Trichoderma (colonies with green, cottony white mycelium) and Purpureocillium (colonies powdery or suede-like, gold, green-gold, yellow-brown, lilac or tan) were selected and brought to pure culture by sub culturing technique. Thirty-two fungal isolates were subjected to preliminary screening under invitro conditions for testing its efficacy to bring about J2 mortality at standard concentration (100%). Among them ten isolates showed more than 50.00 per cent mortality of M. incognita juveniles were selected for further studies. Morphological and cultural characteristics of ten isolates were studied. Bio efficacy study of ten isolates against J2 mortality of M. incognita revealed that three isolates at lowest concentration (25%) showed 24.25, 34.00 and 34.50 per cent mortality of M. incognita juveniles 72 hrs after exposure. Isolate 10, 12, and 27 showed 85.05, 76.50 and 62.50 per cent mortality of M. incognita juveniles at 100 per cent concentration, 72 hr after treatment. CFEs of these three isolates were screened for ovicidal effects against M. incognita in vitro. Sterile water and plain broth were maintained as control. Results of the in vitro screening studies revealed that CFE of isolate 10 (100% concentration) was effective in inhibiting the egg hatching at three to eight days after treatment (14.00 to 23.00 per cent). Isolate 10 at 100% concentration was effective in increasing the mortality of M. incognita juveniles at 24, 48 and 72 hr after treatment (17.93 to 85.05 per cent). Based on ovicidal properties of CFE, three isolates were selected for pot culture experiment to find out the efficacy in comparison with Cartap hydrochloride and P. indica. The results revealed that soil drenching of isolate 10 1%(w/v) with RKN inoculation was effective in reducing the nematode population in soil (83.88 per cent) and root (75.91 per cent) and it was significantly superior to isolate 12 and isolate 27. The lowest number of nematodes were reported by isolate 10 (76.43). Lowest number of galls were reported by the soil drenching of isolate 10 (79.48 per cent). Efficacy of isolate 10 was found to be statistically on par with Cartap hydrochloride and P. indica in reducing the number of females and it also recorded the lowest number of egg masses. Isolate 10 was significantly superior to all other treatments in improving the growth parameters like plant height (86.05), fresh shoot weight (204.88), fresh root weight (81.00) compared to control plant height (59.50), fresh shoot weight (109.25), fresh root weight (48.50) respectively. Significantly superior yield was also recorded by Isolate 10 both with and without RKN inoculation. Morphological, Cultural and Molecular characterization of the fungal isolates were done for identification of isolates. Internal transcribed regions of DNA of ITS regions were amplified by ITS1 (5’-TCCGTAGGTGAACCTGCGG-3’) and ITS4 (5’-TCCTCCGCTTATTGATATGC-3’) regions. Blast search of amplified DNA in NCBI data revealed the identity of isolate 10, 12 and 27 as Trichoderma viride and Metarhizium anisopliae and Fusarium verticillioides respectively. Results revealed that these three isolates suppressed population of M. incognita and increased growth and yield in tomato plants. Soil drenching of this indigenous fungal isolates 1% (w/v) can be recommended to manage M. incognita in tomato without any detrimental effect on environment.