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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: Plant Breeding × Author: KAU × End date: 1994 × Start date: 1994 × Thesis Type: M.Sc ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Screening of cowpea ( Vigna unguiculata (L) Walp.) types for resistance to cowpea aphid borne mosaic disease
    (Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 1994) SudhaKumari, K S; KAU; Gopimony, R
    The screening of fifty nine cowpea varieties through sap inoculations for CAMV resistance under field conditions has shown two varieties namely V-317 and V-276 as highly resistant, Other sixteen varieties were found highly tolerant, seven tolerant and the remaining thirty four susceptible. Analysis of variance revealed significant differences among varieties for days to first flowering, days to maturity, plant height at maturity, number of primary branches per plant, number of pods per plant, number of seeds per pod, length of pod, hundred seed weight, seed yield per plant, CAMV disease incidence, Cercospora leaf spot infection, rust disease infection, Pea aphid infestation, Epilachna beetle infestation. Analysis of variance for number of hairs per unit area of leaf has no significant difference among varieties. High values of GCV, PCV, heritability and genetic advance were observed for length of pod, number of primary branches per plant and hundred seed weight suggesting the reliability of these characters during selection programme for their improvement. Observations on the reactions to major pests and diseases other than CAMV, have shown four varieties as highly resistant to Cercospora leaf spot, six varieties to rust disease infection, five varieties to Epilachna beetle infestation and none to pea aphid infestation. Correlation analysis has revealed positive significant correlation of seed yield per plant with number of seeds per pod, length of pod and hundred seed weight. Genetic divergence using Mahalanobis’s D2 technique was studied on 59 cowpea varieties. Based on this they were grouped in eight clusters. Intra cluster distance was less than inter cluster distance. The maximum divergence was observed between cluster V and VII.