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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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1994 - 19952
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Subject: Plant Breeding × Author: KAU × End date: 1996 × Start date: 1994 × Type: Thesis × Thesis Type: Ph.D ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Genetic analysis of biological nitrogen fixation traits and yield components in cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (Linn). walp)
    (Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 1995) Sreekumar, K; KAU; Manikantan Nair, P
    A study on the parameters of variability, correlations, path-coefficients, combining ability, gene action and heterosis in cowpea was undertaken at the Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, College of Agriculture, Vellayani during 1991 to 1993. Fifty three genotypes of cowpea collected from different sources were planted in a field experiment for the estimation of variability, correlation and path coefficient. Eleven biological nitrogen fixation characters, viz., number of days to flower, length of primary root, number of secondary roots, number of nodules in the primary root, number of nodules in the secondary roots, total number of nodules, weight of effective nodules in the primary root, weight of nodules in the secondary roots, total weight of nodules, nitrogen content in the plant at 50 per cent flowering and plant dry weight and six yield characters, viz., grain yield per plant, length of pods, number of pods per plant, number of seeds per pod, weight of 100 seeds and seed protein content were considered for this study. The ten selected varieties/types from the initial evaluation trial were crossed in a line x tester model, keeping the three high nitrogen fixing types and three high yielding types as lines (total six lines) and two low nitrogen fixing and two low yielding types as testers (total four testers). The F1’s along with their parents were compared in a field experiment and combining ability, gene action and heterosis were estimated. The study of combining ability and gene action were confined to six biological nitrogen fixation characters, viz., number of days to 50 per cent flowering, weight of nodules in the primary root, total weight of nodules, weight of effective nodules, dry weight of the plant and nitrogen content per plant and six yield characters, viz., length of pod, number of seeds per pod, number of pods per plant, hundred seed weight, seed protein content and grain yield per plant. The analysis of variance revealed that a considerable amount of variation among the varieties was present with respect to the characters under study. Characters like number of days to flower, total nodule weight, nitrogen content per plant, weight of 100 seeds and seed protein content had recorded narrow relative magnitude of difference of phenotypic and genotypic coefficient of variation along with high heritability estimate. Moderate magnitude of difference of PCV and GCV along with moderate heritability was recorded for the characters viz., number of nodules in the primary root, number of nodules in the secondary roots, total number of nodules, weight of effective nodules in the primary root, weight nodules in the secondary root, length of pods and number of pods per plant. Plant dry weight and grain yield registered a wider difference of PCV and GCV along with low heritability indication the greater influence of environment over these two characters. Genetic advance as percentage of mean was found to be high for the characters like number of nodules in the secondary roots, weight of effective nodules in the primary root, weight of nodules in the secondary roots, total nodule weight, number of pods per plant and 100 seed weight and moderate for number of nodules in the primary root, total number of nodules and grain yield. Low genetic advance was recorded by number of days to flower, plant dry weight, nitrogen content per plant, length of pod and seed protein content. Hence characters such as number and weight of nodules in the primary root, number and weight of nodules in the secondary roots, total number and weight of nodules, number of pods per plant and weight of 100 seeds may be controlled by additive genes whereas days to 50 per cent flowering, nitrogen content in plant, length of pod and seed protein content may be controlled by non-additive genes. Correlation coefficients were workedout at the genotypic and phenotypic levels. Based on the genetic correlation of characters studied, it was understood that high nitrogen fixing genotypes may not be high yielders because of the antagonistic relationship between grain yield and total nitrogen per plant. Weight of nodules in the primary root and total nodule weight were positively correlated with the nitrogen content in plant. Hence genotypes which was able to form effective large nodules on the primary root system seems to be a better nitrogen fixer. Number of days to 50 per cent flowering had negative genotypic correlation with grain yield. Hence an early flowering genotype may be better yielder than a late flowering type. Weight of hundred seeds and seed protein content exhibited very strong negative correlation indicating that small seeded genotypes may be better with respect to protein content. Grain yield recorded positive phenotypic and genotypic correlation with number of pods per plant. Path coefficient analysis at the genotypic level revealed that total number of nodules had the highest positive direct effect on nitrogen content per plant followed by weight of effective nodules in the primary root and weight of effective nodules in the secondary root. Highest positive direct effect was recorded for length of pod with grain yield. The combining ability analysis revealed that both additive and non-additive gene actions were important for all the characters under study. However GCA and SCA variance ratio which was less than unity for all the traits under study indicated the predominance of non-additive gene action in the inheritance of these traits. Considering the combining ability effects, VCP 4 was found to be the best general combiner for most of the biological nitrogen fixing characters and V 322 was the best general combiner for the grain yield. The cross combination of V 27 x C 152 and V 271 x Co Vu 85020 showed the best performance with respect to sea for the character number of days to 50 per cent flowering while VCP 4 x C 152 for weight of nodules in the primary root and nitrogen content in plant. DPLC 210 x PTB 2 recorded high sea for total weight of nodules, weight of effective nodules, dry weight of the plant and number of pods per plant, on the other hand Co Vu 358 x C 190 recorded high sca for length of pod, number of seeds per pod and seed protein content. The cross combination V 322 x C 190 exhibited high sca for hundred seed weight and V 27 X C 152 for grain yield per plant. Marked heterosis was observed in many cross combinations for most of the characters studied and pronounced heterotic expression was obtained for weight of nodules in the primary root, total weight of nodules, weight of effective nodules, dry weight of the plant at 50 per cent flowering, number of pods per plant and grain yield. It was already established that these characters are predominantly governed by the non – additive gene action. Hence the heterotic vigour expressed by the hybrid combination with respect to these characters are justified. Since the biological feasibility for the exploitation of heterosis is not economical as a plant improvement programme in this crop, genetic improvement of these trait can be brought about more effectively through combination breeding involving genetically diverse and high combining parants.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Induction of genetic recombinations in interspecific crosses of Abelmoschus
    (Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 1994) Sheela, M N; KAU; Manikantan, Nair P
    A study was undertaken at the College of Agriculture, Vellayani during 1990-91 aimed at inducing recombinations of the economic attributes of Bhindi (Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench) and the yellow vein mosaic disease resistance of wild relatives. A preliminary evaluation of 56 accessions revealed good genetic diversity in Bhindi germplasm. The accessions were grouped into four clusters. The characterization of germplasm was done based on IBPGR descriptors. High genotypic coefficients of variation were exhibited by weight of fruits per plant, leaf area, height of plant, number of fruits per plant, single fruit weight and number of branches per plant indicating scope for selection. High heritability along with high genetic advance was recorded for weight of fruits per plant, height of plant, leaf area and number of seeds per fruit. Low heritability coupled with low genetic advance recorded for yellow vein mosaic disease incidence indicated the predominant role of environment in the inheritance of disease resistance.