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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Open Access
Yield and its components in groundnut under partial shade in coconut garden
(Department of Plant Breeding, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 1988) Rajasree, M R; KAU; Gopimony, R
A study on the parameters of variability, heritability and genetic advance and correlation of pod yield with other components were undertaken in thirtyone varieties of groundnut to select genotypes having good yield and adaptability under partially shaded conditions of coconut gardens. The study was conducted during kharif 1987 at the Department of Plant Breeding, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, by raising the varieties in a randomised block design with four replications. Analysis of variance revealed significant differences among varieties for the characters like plant height, first date of flowering , flowering duration, pod yield per plant on fresh weight basis, pod number per plant, mature to immature pod ratio, pod yield per plot on fresh and dry weight basis, 100 pod weight, 100 kernel weight, shelling percentage, halum yield per plant and per plot on fresh and dry weight basis, harvest index, photosynthetic efficiency at reproductive phase, leaf area index at reproductive phase and Cercospora leaf spot disease score. Analysis of variance for chlorophyll-a, b and total pigments revealed that there was no significant difference among the varieties with respect to chlorophyll pigment content. Analysis of variance for shade intensity measured in each plot during vegetative and reproductive phase indicated the presence of uniform shade in the experimental field. High genotypic and phenotypic coefficients of variation, heritability and genetic advance were observed for hundred pod weight and mature to immature pod ratio, suggesting the reliability of these characters during the selection programme for the improvement of this crop. Correlation analysis of dry pod yield per plot with twentyfour characters revealed that fresh pod yield per plot, fresh and dry pod yield per plant, pod number per plant, halum yield per plot on fresh and dry weight basis, harvest index and photosynthetic efficiency during reproductive phase showed relatively high genotypic correlation with dry pod yield per plot. The study indicated that for selecting an ideal plant type of groundnut for partially shaded conditions we have to look for the tallest, earliest flowering and vegetatively maximum vigorous individual plant.
Open Access
Progeny studies of interspecific crosses of abelmoschus
(Department of Plant Breeding, College of Agriculture,Vellayani, 1988) Renie Alex, KAU; Nair, N R
A study was conducted at the Department of Plant Breeding, College of Agriculture, Vellayani during 1987-’88 aimed at evaluating the F4 generation of interspecific hybrids between two yellow vein mosaic susceptible cultivars of Abelmoschus esculentus and the resistant semi-wild species, A. manihot for yellow vein mosaic resistance and yield. The estimation of genetic parameters of important economic characters, the association among these characters and the path coefficient analysis were undertaken. The F4 progeny lines were evaluated in an RBD with three replications. The genotypes showed significant differences in most of the characters studied. Genotypic coefficient of variation was maximum for number of branches per plant and minimum for first fruiting node. Plant height, days to flowering and fruiting phase showed high heritability and appreciable genetic advance while number of seeds per fruit recorded moderately high heritability and appreciable genetic advance indicating the presence of additive gene action. Number of branches per plant, fruit girth and yellow vein mosaic intensity exhibited high heritability and low genetic advance, while weight of single fruit, fruit length and shoot and fruit borer incidence recorded moderately high heritability and low genetic advance. Correlation studies revealed that number of branches per plant, number of fruits per plant, fruiting phase, number of flowers per plant, weight of single fruit, percentage fruit set, fruit length, fruit girth and number of seeds per fruit exhibited positive correlation to yield and could be considered as the major yield attributing characters. Path coefficient analysis projected number of fruits per plant and plant height as the traits exerting high positive direct effect on yield, while number of branches per plant, number of flowers per plant and fruit length exerted high positive indirect effect on yield through number of fruits per plant. The study indicated that the model for selection of a high yielding variety of bhindi should be based on number of fruits per plant, plant height, number of flowers per plant, fruit length and number of branches per plant. However, scoring for yellow vein mosaic intensity in the F4 progenies revealed that plants resembling the wild parent A.manihot in its short stature, lesser number of branches, increased fruit girth and number of seeds per fruit were resistant to the disease. However, since the fruits of these plants did not conform to the quality standards of cultivated bhindi and had higher percentage of shoot and fruit borer incidence, they were not selected. Plants resistant to the disease and resembling the cultivated bhindi were selected to carry forward to the next generation.
Open Access
Gene recombination for resistance to bacterial wilt and yield components in brinjal
(Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 1988) Jayalekshmy, V G; KAU; Gopinathan Nair, V
Brinjal (solanum melongena) is an important vegetable crop of India. It's cultivation is threatened by the bacterial wilt disease caused by Psuedomonas solanacaarum in many places. The cultivation of resistant high yielding varieties is the only effective method of controlling the disease. But the assocation of bacterial wilt resistance with poor yield has obstructed conventional breeding approaches aimed at, deriving useful' recombinations. The present study explores the possibility of developing a resistant high yielding variety by selection in the segregating generation of inter varietal crosses. The plants of the crosses between three resistant varieties, SM-6, SMI-10 and Pusa purple cluster with the susceptable variety Pusa purple long as the male parent, were selfed. The seeds were sown and seedlings raised under two environments, (i) in the field where there is chance for natural incidence of bacterial wilt. (2) in pots with sterilised soil under healthy condition, in both the experiments, mean, variance and correlation coefficients of yield and yield contributing characters were estimated. Study of f2 variability has revealed that, the characters plant height number of fruits per plant and weight of fruit are governed by polygenes. The characters, number of days to first harvest, number of days to final harvest and weight of fruits per plant were governed by major genes with late bearing and low yield dominant over early bearing and high yield respectively. Comparison of means and variances under healthy and infected condition gave an insight into the influence of selection on the expression of these characters. Natural selection for resistance eliminated the early bearers and high yielders leading to directional selection in favour of late bearers and poor yieldes.
Open Access
Production potential of guinea grass clones under partial shade in coconut gardens
(Department of Plant Breeding, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 1988) Thejasee, Bhai V; Sreekumari, Amma J
A research programme was carried out at the Department of Plant Breding, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, during June to December, 1987 with the objective of evaluating the expression of production potential of guinea grass clones under partially shaded conditions in coconut plantations through estimation of genetic variability, correlation of green fodder yield and other components and the direct and indirect effects of different components on green fodder yield. Fifteen varieties of guinea grass were evaluated under partially shaded condition in the inter spaces of coconut plantation, adopting a randomized block design replicated thrice. Data on thirteen characters were recorded and subjected to analysis of variance and covariance. The genotype and phenotypic coefficient of variation, heritability in the broad sense, genetic advance and genotype and phenotypic correlations were estimated. Path analysis was conducted using green fodder yield per plot as the effect and five component characters as the cause. Analysis of variance revealed significant differences among the varieties for plant height, number of tillers per hill, number of panicles per plot, leaf: stem ratio on fresh weight and dry weight bases, green fodder yield per hill and per plot, dry matter yield per hill and Leaf Area Index. Analysis of variance for chlorophyll pigment contents (chlorophyll ‘a’, ‘b’ and total pigments) and dry matter yield per plot revealed that there was no significant difference among the varieties. High genotypic coefficients of variation, moderate to high heritability and genetic gain were recorded for the yield components viz., green fodder yield per hill, leaf: stem ratio and Leaf Area Index suggesting the reliability of these characters during selection programmes for the improvement of this crop. Green fodder yield per plot recorded high positive genotypic correlation with tiller number per hill, green fodder yield per hill, dry matter yield, leaf: stem ratio and Leaf Area Index. Path analysis revealed that green fodder yield per hill had the maximum direct contribution for green fodder yield per plot, followed by leaf: stem ratio on fresh weight basis, number of tillers per hill and plant height. Leaf Area Index exhibited negative direct effect and positive indirect effect through green fodder yield per hill and leaf: stem ratio on fresh weight basis on green fodder yield per plot. It can be suggested that an ideal plant type of guinea grass for cultivation under partially shaded conditions should have high Leaf Area Index more number of leaves resulting in high green fodder yield per hill. Thus green fodder yield per hill, leaf: stem ratio on fresh weight basis and Leaf Area Index may be considered in breeding programmes for developing high fodder yielding guinea grass varieties suited to partially shaded conditions of coconut plantations.
Open Access
Genetic analysis of open pollinated seed progeny of guinea grass clones
(Department of Plant Breeding, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 1988) Sally Joseph, V; KAU; Gopimony, R
Open pollinated seeds collected from six guinea grass clones were used for genetic evaluation of progeny through analysis of variance and covariance, coefficient of variation, heritability, genetic advance, simple correlation studies and D2 analysis. The progeny of pubescent clones were found segregating into pubescent and glabrous types indicating the possibility of producing superior hybrid guinea grass clones using glabrous the character as marker gene. The study on the mean performance of individual traits revealed the overall superiority of the mutant clone MC-16 over others in green fodder yield, tiller counts, leaf-stem ratio and dry matter yield. But MC-2, which was on par with MC-16 in green fodder yield, was found superior over MC-16 in quality characters like crude fibre content and crude protein content. The estimates of GCV and PCV were low for all characters. Among the nine characters studied the highest estimates of GCV and PCV were obtained for dry matter yield indicating scope for improvement of that character through selection. Highgest fodder yield showed positive correlation with all the other characters except leaf-stem ratio and inflorescence count. Dry matter yield was found contributing maximum towards green fodder yield. Plant height and tiller counts have also shown positive correlation with green fodder yield. The data on interrelations among different characters have shown that the different characters have shown that the different associations among tiller counts, dry matter yield, plant height, width of leaves and crude fibre content were positive. This has suggested the possibility of simultaneous improvement of these characters in a selection programme involving any one of these traits. Through divergence analysis of the six varieties were grouped into three genetic constellations with the assumption that the varieties within the cluster had smaller D2 values among themselves than varieties between the clusters. The intercluster distance was maximium between cluster II and III showing considerable genetic distance between these groups. The inflorescence count contributed maximum towards divergence followed by crude protein content, tiller counts and height of plants indicating that selection of parents differing in these characters will result in the production of divergent material.
Open Access
Genetic analysis of brown planthopper resistance in rice
(Department of Plant Breeding, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 1988) Rema Bai, N; KAU; Gopinathan Nair, V
The Brown planthopper (BPH), Nilaparvata lugens (Stal), has become a serious threat to rice production throughout Asia. Very extensive losses have occurred in India, Indonesia, and the Phylippines. The most severe outbreak in India occurred in Kerala during 1973-74 in ‘Kole’ lands of Trichur district and ‘Kuttanad’ area of Kottayam and Alleppey districts. Although insecticides provide effective control, this approach is expensive and creates problems of environmental pollution. Resistant varieties can provide protection and insurance against this insect pest at no extra cost and with no danger from chemical residues. Very little work has been done in Kerala to identify sources of resistance to the local biotype of BPH and on the genetic basis of BPH resistance. The major objectives of the present investigation were to identify sources of resistance to BPH and to conduct genetic analysis and understand the mode of inheritance of BPH resistance. One hundred and nine rice types were studied for their reaction to BPH through the bulk seedling test at the seedling stage and tiller test and honeydew experiment at the tillering stage. Out of them 41 were found to be resistant, 22 moderately resistant, 13 moderately susceptible and 33 highly susceptible. In the tiller test, 31 out of the 41 resistant varieties were resistant, nine moderately resistant and one moderately susceptible. The thirty one types found resistant under tiller test were subjected to honeydew experiment, out of which 30 were found to be resistant and one was moderately resistant. 2 The inheritance of resistance was studied in eight types selected from among the 30 types proved to be resistant in all the three tests. They were crossed with the susceptible variety TN1 and the F1, F2 and F3 generations were studied by bulk seedling test, tiller test and honeydew experiment. F1 seedlings were also screened by bulk seedling test, tiller test and honeydew experiment. The F2 progenies were screened by the bulk seedling test and tiller test. The F3 seedlings were screened by bulk seedling test only. The F2 and F3 progenies were scored separately as resistant and susceptible types and the observed segregation ratios were tested against the expected by applying the test of goodness of fit. The F1s of all the eight crosses were resistant indicating that resistance in each of the eight types was governed by dominant gene. The F2 populations of all the eight crosses segregated in the ratio of 3 resistant : 1 susceptible indicating that a single dominant gene governed resistance in each of the eight resistant types. F3 breeding behaviour of the nine F2 resistant plants from each of the eight crosses confirmed the monogenic control of resistance over susceptibility. Two dominant genes Bph1 and Bph3 were identified at IRRI (Bph1 in variety Mudgo and Bph3 in RatuHeenati). In the present study, Mudgo containing Bph1 and RatuHeenati with Bph3 gene were not resistant. Hence it is assumed that the dominant resistant gene identified in the present study is neither Bph1 nor Bph3. 3 Diallele crosses were made between six resistant types selected based on diverse origin. The F1 and F2 progenies of the 15 combinations were studied to get information on the allelie relationship between the resistance genes. The F1 progenies of all the crosses were resistant and the F2 progenies were homogeneous for resistance. This lead to the conclusion that all the six types have the same dominant gene for resistance. All the six resistant types were isogenic and hence all of them are expected to carry a dominant gene for BPH resistance other than Bph1 and Bph3. The present study has thus made available several types resistant to the local biotype of BPH and also enabled the location of a new dominant gene conferring resistance to this biotype. These results and the materials made available can form the basis for a more effective breeding approach for BPH resistance in this region.

Kerala Agricultural University, Thrissur

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