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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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20061
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Subject: Plant Biochemistry × Author: KAU × Author: Karthika, Karunakaran × Start date: 1995 ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Agrobactrium tumefaciens mediated genetic transformation in dendrobium variety sonia 17 with 1- aminocyclopropane- 1 carboxylic acid (acc) synthase antisense gene
    (Department of Plant Biotechnology, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 2006) Karthika, Karunakaran; KAU; Rajmohan, K
    A study on “Agrobacterium tumefaciens mediated genetic transformation in Dendrobium sonia 17 using ACC synthase antisense gene.” was conducted at the Department of Plant Biotechnology, College of Agriculture, and Vellayani during 2004-2006. Orchid is an important cut flower crop. Dendrobium sonia 17 is the most popular commercial orchid grown in Kerala. It has sufficiently higher vase life. However, increasing vase life can reduce the per day cost of flower. The present study was undertaken with the main objective of evolving a protocol for Agrobacterium tumefaciens mediated genetic transformation in Dendrobium sonia 17 using ACC synthase antisense gene. PLBs were initiated from the meristematic shoot tip on half strength MS medium supplemented with growth regulators. MS medium supplemented with BA 0.2 mg l-1 was proved to be the best in terms of induction of PLBs (92.5 %). The Agrobacterium tumefaciens strain GV3101, harbouring the plasmid pA4A2AB was used for genetic transformation. As the plasmid harbour nptII and ACS2 genes, the sensitivity of Agrobacterium strain and PLBs to different concentrations of kanamycin was evaluated. The lethal doses of kanamycin to Agrobacterium and PLBs were 300 and 150 mg l-1, respectively. The effective dose of cefotaxime for the elimination of bacterial strain GV3101 was 50 mg l-1 and the lethal dose of cefotaxime to PLBs was 300 mg l-1. Genetic transformation was achieved by co-cultivating PLBs with bacterial suspension. Conditions like infection and co-cultivation time, selection agent were optimized. The most effective infection time was 20 min, followed by a co-cultivation period of four days. The survival of tissues transformed on the selection media was 76.47 per cent. The transformation efficiency was increased when acetosyringone 200 µM was added to infection and co-cultivation media. Transformation was confirmed by PCR and southern hybridisation of putative transformants. This study provides a protocol for genetic transformation in Dendrobium sonia 17 using ACC synthase antisense gene.