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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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  • ThesisItemOpen Access
    Compatability among Varieties in Capsicum Annum L. and Frutescens L.
    (Department of Olericulture, College of Horticulture,Vellanikkara, 1984) Krisnakumari, K; KAU; Peter, K V
    Attempts at interspecific hybridization in the genus Capsicum have succeeded only in a few cases. Most of the crosses resulted in negligible seed set and flower fall. Capsicum frutescens is valued for its high pungency and also for the source of resistance to leaf curl and mosaic complex. An experiment was planned and carried out during 1982-83 at the Instructional Farm of the College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, Trichur to find out crossability and related aspects involving two cultivated varieties of Capsicum annuum (Jwala and K2) and three useful lines of Capsicum frutescens (White Kanthari, Green Chuna and Ornamental Type). All crosses including directs and reciprocals were found to be compatiable except in two combinations where white kanthari was used as the female parent. Relative efficiency of hand pollination, mixed pollination and pollination after NAA (15ppm) spraying on compatibility indicated that the crosses white kanthari x Jwala and white kanthari x K2 failed with hand pollination and pollination after NAA sprying whereas these crosses were successful with mixed pollination. Effect of maternal parent on crossability index and percentage seed set efficiency was found to be significant. The chromosome numbers of the five parental lines were found to be 2n= 24. Significant heterosis was observed for many of the characters. Genetic distance reveals that parents Jwala and Green Chuna were the farthest whereas K2 and ornamental Type were the closest. Maximum oleoresin content was in Jwala (16.83%) and in hybrids Jwala x ornamental Type had the highest (16.6%).