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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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2015 - 20182
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Subject: Plant Breeding × Author: Manjunatha, G A × End date: 2019 × Start date: 2015 × Type: Thesis ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Diversity analysis in landraces of rice(oryza sativa L.) in Wayanad through morphological and molecular polymorphism study
    (Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics,College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, Thrissur, 2018) Manjunatha, G A; KAU; Elsy, C R
    The present investigation entitled “Diversity analysis in landraces of rice (Oryza sativa L.) in Wayanad through morphological and molecular polymorphism study” was conducted at the Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, Thrissur and Regional Agricultural Research Station, Ambalavayal, Wayanad during the period 2015- 2018. The study aimed to collect and characterize the rice landraces of Wayanad at morphological level and also to characterize the popular aromatic genotypes of the area at molecular level. DUS characterization revealed that, all the landraces under the study exhibited presence of leaf collar, absence of anthocyanin colouration of leaf collar, presence of leaf ligule, split shape of leaf ligule, absence of anthocyanin colouration for plant parts like lemma (keel), area below apex of lemma, stem nodes and presence of secondary branching in panicle. Variability was exhibited for majority of characters namely coleoptile colour, basal leaf sheath colour, intensity of green colour of leaf, anthocyanin colouration of plant parts like leaf, leaf sheath, auricles, ligules, lemma apex, area below apex of lemma, distribution of anthocyanin colouration in leaf, pubescence of leaf blade surface, leaf auricles, culm attitude, density of pubescence of lemma, colour of stigma, attitude of flag leaf blade, curvature of main axis of panicle, lemma and palea colour, presence and colour of awns, distribution of awns in panicle, secondary branching in panicle, attitude of branches in panicle, panicle exsertion, leaf senescence, sterile lemma colour, shape, colour and aroma of decorticated grain, gelatinization temperature and lodging nature.Thavalakannan, Mullan puncha and Sugandhamathi exhibited distinct morphological characters. Among the 60 landraces, Kanni kayama, Ambalavayal-1, Kothandan, Onamottan, Thondi-2, Chenthadi, Kannali and Thondi-1 exhibited significantly high grain yield per plant, which was on par with that of Uma and Aathira (high yielding check varieties), indicating the possibility of commercial cultivation of these cultivars. High PCV value than GCV for all the characters under study, indicated the influences of environmental factors on the characters. High heritability and high genetic gain was exhibited by the characters like length of leaf blade, width of leaf blade, stem thickness, stem length, number of tillers per plant, number of panicles per plant, length of panicle main axis, number of spikelets per panicle, number of grains per panicle, seed setting (per cent), 1000 grain weight, grain length, grain L/B ratio, decorticated grain L/B ratio and grain yield per plant, indicating that these characters could be used in crop improvement programmes. Character association studies including correlation and path-analysis revealed that, five characters viz., width of leaf blade, stem length, number of panicles per plant, weight of 1000 grains and decorticated grain width showed both positive correlation and positive direct effect on grain yield per plant. Cluster analysis based on qualitative characters categorized 60 landraces into 11 clusters at 74 percent similarity level. Based on D2 statistics analysis, the landraces were grouped into seven clusters with variable number of landraces in each cluster, indicating wide genetic diversity in the Wayanad landraces. All the inter-cluster distances were higher than the intra-cluster distance, indicating the wider genetic diversity among landraces of different clusters. Molecular characterization of aromatic rice genotypes of Wayanad by SSR (RM) profiling revealed high level of genetic polymorphism among the genotypes studied. Out of 86 SSR markers used for molecular characterization, 44 markers were polymorphic and remaining 42 were monomorphic. Maximum number of amplicons was exhibited by RM247 with five amplicons, followed by RM85, RM251, RM248 and RM493 with four amplicons each. The highest PIC value was exhibited by RM247 (0.90), followed by RM85, RM251 and RM493 with 0.88 PIC value each. Out of 86 SSR (RM) markers, 21 markers distinguished Basmati from traditional aromatic landraces of Wayanad viz., Gandhakasala and Jeerakasala. Seven SSR markers distinguished Gandhakasala from Jeerakasala, whereas 23 markers distinguished Basmati from Jeerakasala. Twenty-two markers distinguished Basmati from Gandhakasala and 23 markers distinguished aromatic group from non-aromatic group. Cluster analysis for molecular characterization revealed maximum similarity coefficient (1.00) within all the Jeerakasala morphotypes and all the Gandhakasala morphotypes. Cluster analysis effectively differentiated Basmati, Jeerakasala, Gandhakasala, Uma and Aathira from each other. Among the five clusters formed, cluster III was the largest one comprising all the 12 Gandhakasala morphotypes, followed by cluster IV with all Jeerakasala morphotypes. Cluster I, Cluster II and Cluster V exhibited one genotype each namely Aathira, Uma and Basmati, indicating their genetic distinctness.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Evaluation of a collection of Indica rice genotypes under organic management adopting farmer participatory evaluation strategy
    (College of Agriculture, Padannakkad, 2015) Manjunatha, G A; KAU; Vanaja, T
    The experiment entitled ‘Evaluation of a Collection of Indica Rice Genotypes under Organic Management Adopting Farmer Participatory Evaluation Strategy’ was conducted in the Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, College of Agriculture, Padannakkad, Kerala Agricultural University during 2013 - 2015. Field trials were laid out during rabi season in the field of a progressive organic rice farming group (Arayidam padasekharam) in Mayyil Panchayath of Kannur district, Kerala. The main objectives of the study were identification of rice genotypes suited for organic farming and the key organic varietal traits. The materials comprised of 65 genotypes of rice conserved in the Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, College of Agriculture, Padannakkad, which include 14 traditional genotypes of Kerala, a collection of 41 improved varieties developed for conventional rice farming, out of which 32 are of KAU, and 10 rice varieties/ cultures developed by Kerala Agricultural University adopting strategies of Organic Plant Breeding (OPB). Out of 65 rice genotypes evaluated under organic management, ‘Anaswara’, the variety developed by KAU for conventional farming and Culture MK-157, the genotype developed based on strategies of Organic Plant Breeding (OPB) (it was released in the name ‘Jaiva’ in 2015 by KAU as the first organic rice variety) ranked first for grain yield and also showed tolerance to the major pests and diseases on visual observation. But in quality analysis, the variety ‘Jaiva’ ranked best for all the four quality parameters evaluated namely, volume expansion, kernel elongation ratio, alkali spreading value and sensory evaluation, whereas ‘Anaswara’ variety ranked only for kernel elongation ratio. Hence considering yield, quality and biotic stress tolerance together, ‘Jaiva’ variety can be ranked first. Out of seven genotypes namely, ‘Aishwarya’, ‘Dhanu’, ‘Aruna’, ‘HariyanaBasmathi’, ‘Kanakom’, ‘Sagara’ and Culture MK-115, which ranked as second set with on par performance with respect to grain yield, the genotypes ‘Dhanu’, ‘Aishwarya’ and the flood tolerant pre-release organic Culture MK-115 showed top performance for various yield component traits, few cooking qualities, and pest and disease tolerance. Hence these three genotypes can also be considered for organic farming after ‘Jaiva’ and ‘Anaswara’. Out of 99 varieties of KAU developed for conventional farming in ordinary wetland using chemical fertilizers, 32 varieties were evaluated under organic management in this study. Out of these, ‘Anaswara’ variety followed by ‘Dhanu’ and ‘Aishwarya’ can be considered for organic farming for the time being as per the suggestion of IFOAM that, till enough organic varieties are developed adopting Organic Plant Breeding(OPB) strategies, those varieties developed for conventional farming using chemical fertilizers but performs well under organic management can be considered. The remaining 67 varieties of KAU developed for conventional farming has to be tested under organic management which may be the future line of work. Out of eighteen growth and yield parameters studied under organic management, four parameters namely, number of tillers plant-1 at harvest, number of productive tillers plant-1, number of grains panicle-1 and straw yield plant-1 showed both positive significant correlation and direct effect with grain yield plant-1. Hence these four characters can be considered as organic varietal yield component traits. Based on variation, correlation and path analysis studies, the genotypes which can be selected as parents for various organic varietal yield component traits for future breeding programmes of organic variety development are given below. Parents for the straw yield plant-1 are ‘Kanakom’, ‘Dhanu’, ‘Anaswara’, ‘Jaiva’, Culture MK-115, ‘Makam’, ‘Remanika’, and ‘Vytilla-4’. Parents for the number of productive tillers plant-1 are ‘Badhra’, ‘Dhanu’, ‘Anaswara’ and ‘Makam’. Parents for the number of tillers plant-1at harvest are ‘Dhanu’, ‘Badhra’, ‘Anaswara’, ‘Makam’, ‘Jaiva’, and ‘Remanika’ and parent for number of grains panicle-1 is ‘Mahsuri’. Genotypes which can be selected as parents for important cooking quality characters which are considered as organic varietal traits are ‘CO-47’, ‘Jaiva’ and ‘Valankunhivithu’ for volume expansion and ‘Pusabasmathi’, ‘Jaiva’, ‘FL-478’, ‘Ezhome-1’, ‘Mahsuri’, ‘Gouri’, ‘Swarnaprabha’, ‘Dhanu’, ‘IR-28’, ‘Aasha’ and ‘Aishwarya’ for sensory evaluation like taste, texture, colour, aroma etc. On the basis of visual observation of pests and diseases, the genotypes that can be selected as parents for tolerance to major pests, namely, stem borer, leaf roller and rice bug are Culture MK-115, ‘Anaswara’, ‘Dhanu’ and ‘Mahsuri’. The parents that can be selected for tolerance to major diseases namely, blast and sheath blight are ‘Jaiva’, ‘Kasthuri’, ‘Pusabasmathi’, ‘Anaswara’, ‘Ayirankana’ and ‘CO-47’.Validation through scientific screening is necessary.