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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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20116
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Subject: Plant Breeding × End date: 2011 × Start date: 2011 × Type: Thesis ×
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Now showing 1 - 6 of 6
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Heterosis breeding in sesame (Sesamum indicum L.).
    (Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 2011) Gayathri, G; KAU; Dijee, Bastian
    The study entitled ‘Heterosis breeding in sesame (Sesamum indicum L.)’ was undertaken at the Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara. The objectives of the study were to collect and evaluate different genotypes of sesame for morphological traits and yield attributes, to identify useful parents producing heterotic crosses and developing hybrids in sesame. The study also intended to develop male sterile lines in sesame through interspecific hybridization with Sesamum malabaricum. Sesamum indicum and Sesamum malabaricum accessions were collected from Kerala and Tamil Nadu and evaluated for their morphological traits. Wide range of variation was noticed for characters like plant height, number of days to flowering and seed yield per plant which contributed maximum to genetic divergence. The genotypes studied were grouped into six clusters. High genotypic coefficient of variation (GCV) was recorded for number of capsules per plant, plant height, seed yield per plant and number of branches per plant. High heritability with high genetic advance as per cent of mean was recorded for number of days to flowering, plant height, number of branches per plant, number of capsules per plant and seed yield per plant. This indicates that the characters are governed by additive gene effects and selection for these traits will be effective. Association analysis revealed that seed yield per plant was correlated to plant height, number of capsules per plant and number of days to flowering. Path coefficient analysis indicated maximum positive direct effect by number of capsules per plant, capsule length, plant height and 1000 seed weight on seed yield per plant. In order to develop hybrids, fourteen parents were selected based on the per se performance of the genotypes. They were crossed in line X tester mating design. Forty eight hybrid combinations obtained were raised in the field along with the parents and evaluated for their heterosis and combining ability effects. Parental genotypes AVTS-06-5, AVTS-06-10, IVTS-06-12, KYM-1, Tilak and TMV-6 were identified as high combiners based on general combining ability (gca) effects. Two combinations viz. AVTS-06-5 X KYM-1 and IVTS-06-12 X TMV-3 had significant values of per se performance, specific combining ability (sca) effects and standard heterosis for seed yield per plant. They can be evaluated for their hybrid vigour over locations and seasons. The crosses AVTS-06-5 X TMV-3, AVTS-06-5 X TMV-6 and TCR 3279A X KYM-1 have been identified as potential cross combinations for isolation of promising segregants as the parents involved in these crosses had high significant gca effects for seed yield per plant but the hybrids recorded non significant sca effects. Interspecific hybridization between S.malabaricum and S.indicum was attempted to develop male sterile lines. Seed set was noticed in three interspecific hybrids which failed to germinate due to embryo abortion. Hence these embryos were rescued and raised in vitro to obtain the hybrids.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Invitro propagation in ashoka : saraca asoca (Roxb.) de wilde.
    (Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 2011) Brindha Devi, I; KAU; Sreenivasan, E
    Asoka (Saraca asoca) is an important medicinal and ornamental tropical tree currently facing the threat of extinction due to overexploitation of trees occurring in forests and other natural habitats. Unscientific and destructive extraction of bark from trees has lead to acute shortage of raw bark by ayurvedic industries. Hence, the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) has listed this species under ‘globally vulnerable’ category. It is also enlisted among the 36 threatened and endangered medicinal plants of India. It is considered as the sacred tree of buddhists and Hindus. Literally the term ‘asoca’ means ‘sorrow-less’ and the tree is believed to remove the grief and unhappiness. The tree has immense medicinal properties. Its bark is considered as the primary medicinal part. Due to its acute short supply compared to its demand, various development and research activities are being prioritized to conserve, utilize and improve this species. It is mainly propagated by seeds. Due to heterozygous and cross pollinated nature of the species, it never gives a true to type progeny. Therefore the present study was undertaken to standardize the technique of in vitro propagation of Saraca asoca. Standardization of suitable explants, surface sterilization procedures and culture establishment protocol, Induction of multiple shoots and Elongation of root, hardening and planting out are the major objectives of the study. Nodal segment, Internodal segment and shoot tip were the three explants tried. Various surface sterilization procedures were tried using Chloramphenicol, ethyl alcohol, 0.1% mercuric chloride and combination of ethyl alcohol and mercuric chloride in various concentration and duration, using nodal segments as explant. Surface sterilization using 70% ethyl alcohol for 3 minutes followed by 0.1% mercuric chloride for minutes proved to be the best, which gave the maximum survival percentage of 80.   The next part of the study was standardisation of suitable explants for culture establishment. Among the three explants, Nodal segments gave maximum response of 60 per cent in ½ MS medium with BAP 0.5mg/l. This was followed by shoot tips in the same medium, which gave 10 per cent response. Internodal segments did not respond in any of the media used. Standardisation of basal media for culture establishment was done using nodal segments as the explants. Three media supplemented with BA 0.5 mg.l-1 were tried viz. MS, Half strenght MS, Woody plant media. Among the three, ½ MS media was identified as the best basal medium followed by MS medium. No response was seen in WPM medium. Culture establishment as well as Shoot bud initiation was attempted in ½ MS and MS media with various growth regulator combinations. Maximum response of 60 per cent was obtained in ½ MS medium containing BAP 0.5 mg/l followed by 30 percent in the same medium containing BAP 1.5 mg/l. There were no response with 2,4-D. The response obtained was callusing in all cases. Induction of multiple shooting was tried in ½ MS medium supplemented with BAP, and Kn alone as well as combinations of BAP, IAA at various concentration. Here highest response of 30 per cent of single shoots was recorded in ½ MS media containing BAP 0.5 mg/l. Response was in the form of single shoot. The single shoots with a mean length of about 1.5mm after one week of growth was obtained. With BAP 2.0 mg/l, single shoots were produced in about 5% of cultures within 54 days. Effect of Kn in various concentration ranging from 0.5 to 2.0 mg/l was found to be low in shoot induction. The maximum length of shoot of about 1.6 cm was recorded in combination of BAP 0.5 mg/l and IAA0.5 mg/l. Various combinations of IAA and IBA at different concentrations were tried for rooting of in vitro shoots. However there was no response in any of the combinations tried.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Epidemiology and management of black rot of cauliflower in plains of kerala
    (Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 2011) Lakshmi Prasanna, S; KAU; Ravi, S
    The present study “Epidemiology and management of black rot of cauliflower in plains of Kerala” was taken up at Department of Plant Pathology, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara and Agriculture Research Station, Mannuthy during 2009-2011 with an aim to study the epidemic factors influencing the incidence, development and severity of black rot caused by Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris in plains of Kerala and to conduct field studies on its management. The pathogen was isolated from the leaves and curds of cauliflower showing typical symptoms of the disease, on PSPA medium. The colonies of the isolate were yellow in colour, circular, slimy and smooth convex with entire margin. Studies on morphological, cultural and biochemical characters confirmed the bacteria as Xcc. Various types of viz., chlorotic lesion, V shaped lesions, vein blackening; necrosis and vascular discoloration were produced by the pathogen. The symptoms were initially localized and later became systemic and stunting of plants was noticed due to systemic infection. Progression and severity of the disease was studied by inoculating the plants at five days interval starting from 10 days after transplant (DAT) up to 60 DAT. Cauliflower plants of all age group were found to be susceptible to this disease. But, young plants were succumbing to death due to infection. As the age increased there was gradual decrease in the systemic infection. Plant mortality also decreased with the increase in age at which they got infected. Sixteen cauliflower varieties were screened for black rot disease under field conditions. The incidence, calculated as A- value (AUDPC), varied from 0.53 to 12.81. These varieties were grouped in to four categories based on the scale; 0-resistant, 0-3 moderately resistant, 3-5 moderately susceptible and >5 susceptible. Out of sixteen varieties, none was found to be resistant, eight were found to be moderately resistant, two were moderately susceptible and remaining six were susceptible. An attempt was made to formulate a score card for this disease for easy observation and which has a bearing on the yield. The actual area of infection in the leaf at 10, 25 and 40 days old plants were correlated with yield and a equation y=389.061+3.371(10 DAT)-0.986(25 DAT)-2.391(40 DAT) was obtained. Three system of score card were formulated and their relationships with the yield were re-correlated statistically and three additional equations were arrived. The equation two was comparable with the original equation and that score card can be better adopted as it showed 95 per cent similarity to the original, where scale 1 and 3 showed 77.5 and 90.1 per cent similarity respectively. An attempt was made to determine the role of weather parameters on incidence of this disease. The weather factors such as maximum temperature and sunshine hours were positively correlated prevailing to the observation on 9th day and average of 7, 8 and 9 days. Similarly average of 4, 5, 6; 5, 6, 7 and 6, 7, 8 days were positively correlated with only sunshine hours. A partial multiple regression equation is also derived for predicting the disease incidence. Such correlation studies have to be conducted for at least five years consecutively to arrive at a better prediction model. Initial in vitro evaluations were done to identify the chemicals, botanicals and bioagents to be carried to the field. Field trail showed that garlic extract 10 per cent, tetracycline 250 ppm and Pseudomonas fluorescens were best treatments against Xcc.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    In vitro propagation in ashoka (Saraca asoca (Roxb) de Wilde)
    (Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 2011) Brindha, Devi I; KAU; Sreenivasan, E
    Asoka (Saraca asoca) is an important medicinal and ornamental tropical tree currently facing the threat of extinction due to overexploitation of trees occurring in forests and other natural habitats. Unscientific and destructive extraction of bark from trees have lead to acute shortage of raw bark by ayurvedic industries. Hence, the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) has listed this species under ‘globally vulnerable’ category. It is also enlisted among the 36 threatened and endangered medicinal plants of India. It is considered as the sacred tree of buddhists and Hindus. Literally the term ‘asoca’ means ‘ sorrow-less’ and the tree is believed to remove the grief and unhappiness. The tree has immense medicinal properties. Its bark is considered as the primary medicinal part. Due to its acute short supply compared to its demand, various development and research activities are being prioritized to conserve, utilize and improve this species. It is mainly propagated by seeds. Due to heterozygous and cross pollinated nature of the species, it never give a true to type progeny. Therefore the present study was undertaken to standardise the technique of in vitro propagation of Saraca asoca. Standardization of suitable explants, surface sterilization procedures and culture establishment protocol, Induction of multiple shoots and Elongation of root, hardening and planting out are the major objectives of the study. Nodal segment, Intemodal segment and shoot tip were the three explants tried. Various surface sterilisation procedures were tried using Chloramphenicol, ethyl alcohol , 0,1% mercuric chloride and combination of ethyl alcohol and mercuric chloride in various concentration and duration, using nodal segments as explant. Surface sterilisation using 70% ethyl alcohol for 3 minutes followed by 0.1% mercuric chloride for 5 minutes proved to be the best, which gave the maximum survival percentage of 80. The next part of the study was standardisation of suitable explants for culture establishment. Among the three explants, Nodal segments gave maximum response of 60 per cent in Vi MS medium with BAP 0.5mg/l. This was followed by shoot tips in the same medium, which gave 10 per cent response. Intemodal segments did not respond in any of the media used. Standardisation of basal media for culture establishment was done using nodal segments as the explants. Three media supplemented with BA 0.5 mg.l'1 were tried viz. MS, Half strenght MS, Woody plant media. Among the three, V2MS media was identified as the best basal medium followed by MS medium. No response was seen in WPM medium. Culture establishment as well as Shoot bud initiation was attempted in 14 MS and MS media with various growth regulator combinations. Maximum response of 60 per cent was obtained in Vi MS medium containing BAP 0.5 mg/1 followed by 30 percent in the same medium containing BAP 1.5 mg/1. There were no response with 2,4-D. The response obtained was callusing in all cases. Induction of multiple shooting was tried in V2 MS medium supplemented with BAP, and Kn alone as well as combinations of BAP, IAA at various concentration. Here highest response of 30 per cent of single shoots was recorded in V2 MS media containing BAP 0.5 mg/1. Response was in the form of single shoot. The single shoots with a mean length of about 1.5mm after one week of growth was obtained.With BAP 2.0 mg/1, single shoots were produced in about 5% of cultures within 54 days. Effect of Kn in various concentration ranging from 0.5 to 2.0 mg/1 was found to be low in shoot induction. The maximum length of shoot of about 1.6 cm was recorded in combination of BAP 0.5 mg/1 and IAA0.5 mg/1, various combinations of IAA and IBA at different concentrations were tried for rooting of in vitro shoots. However there was no response in any of the combinations tried.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Screening of fertility restorers for cytoplasmic genic male sterile (CGMS) lines in rice (Oryza sativa L.).
    (Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 2011) Adarsha, B; KAU; Jiji Joseph
    The study entitled “Screening of fertility restorers for Cytoplasmic Genic Male Sterile (CGMS) lines in Rice (Oryza sativa L.)” was conducted in the Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, College of Horticulture during the period 2009-11. The study envisaged evaluation of different CGMS sources and identification of potential restorers and maintainers among high yielding varieties of Kerala. Separate experiments viz., 1. Morphological evaluation of parents and 2. Development and evaluation of F1 hybrids, conducted to realize the objectives. Materials for the present study comprised of two CGMS lines viz., CMS 2A from Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore and IR 68897A, from Directorate of Rice Research, Hyderabad. Seven popular high yielding varieties of Kerala were used as male parents. Parental lines were raised and observations on qualitative and quantitative traits were recorded. Hybridization was done between CGMS lines and restorers in Line x Tester design. The F1 and the parents were raised and observations were recorded. The results on qualitative traits showed that the male parents Onam and Uma had well exserted panicle, semi-erect flag leaf orientation and well exserted stigma which are helpful in out crossing. None of the hybrids were found to be superior to parents with respect to yield due to increased spikelet sterility. Even though, hybrids CMS 2A x Kanchana, CMS 2A x Onam, IR 68897A x Aiswarya and IR 68897A x Uma recorded high pollen fertility none of the male lines can be considered as restorer. The varieties Aiswarya, Jyothi, Kanchana, Matta Triveni, Onam and Uma can be considered as a partial restorer for CGMS line CMS 2A. For the CGMS line IR 68897A, the male lines, Aiswarya, Jaya, Jyothi, Matta Triveni and Uma can be considered as partial restorer. Considering the pollen fertility of CGMS line CMS 2A, Jaya with 43.73 per cent pollen fertility can be considered as partial maintainer and for IR 68897A, Kanchana and Onam can be identified as a partial maintainer. However, in the hybrids CMS 2A x Uma and IR 68897A x Onam, few plants exhibited high pollen sterility per cent. These can be utilized to develop CGMS lines in the genetic background of Uma/Onam in future, through backcross breeding programme.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Identification of fertility restorer gene in hybrid rice technology through marker assisted selection
    (Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 2011) Kosana, Abhishikth; KAU; Jayalekshmi, V G
    The research project entitled “Identification of restorers for hybrid rice technology through molecular marker aided selection” was carried out in the department of Plant Breeding and Genetics ,College of Agriculture,Vellayani during the year 20010-11. The major objectives of this study was to Compare the morphological characters of the genotypes with the known restorers and to study the allelic status of the Kerala varieties with respect to SSR markers linked to Rf loci. This study also intended to assess the possibility for using Marker Assisted Selection for screening for restorers. The study was under taken in 19 rice varieties released by KAU and two restorers used in hybrid rice technology in Tamil Nadu Agricultural University. Biometrical analysis showed the varieties Aiswarya,Neeraja,Ptb2,Ptb13,Varsha,Swarna Prabha and Kanchana are having characters similar to the fertility characters of the known restorers . All the SSR markers selected in the study showed amplification in all the genotypes .The SSR markers, RM258, RM228, RM6100, RM6344 and RM171 showed polymorphism in the profile. SSR marker RM228 mapped on chromosome 10 and linked to Rf4 gene produced three alleles at the loci between 100-200 bp. SSR marker RM 258 mapped on chromosome 10 and linked to Rf -4 ,Rf 5 and Rf (u1)genes produced three alleles but only one of them was present in both the known restorers. SSR marker RM6100 mapped on chromosome 10 and linked to Rf4 gene produced three alleles.SSR marker RM171 on chromosome 10 linked to Rf 4 gene produced two alleles between 100-200bp. SSR marker RM6344 located on chromosome 7 and linked to Rf 4 locus produced three alleles between 100-200bp Among the five SSR markers tested in this study RM171 and RM 6100 showed a comparatively better performance in screening restorers. The dendrogram constructed with data from the amplification profile of different primer pairs show that the varieties Varsha and Neeraja with close similarity with Co48 and CB87R with respect to Rf locus. The dendrogram based on the fertility traits also clustered Varsha and Neeraja along with Co48 and CB87R. Ptb-10 and Aiswarya are on par with each other both were reported as maintainers. Members of these two clusters can be used to develop maintainers and restorers respectively. Most of the restorers so far reported are white kernelled and a probable linkage between white kernel colour and Rf loci was reported in this study also Neeraja which showed tight linkage with Co 48 the known restorer is a white kernelled variety. However Manupriya and Varsha which also showed close similarity with the known restorers are red kernelled varieties. Keralites are very specific in the quality of rice they consume. A red kernelled bold grain with non stickiness after cooking is preferred mostly. The red varieties Varsha and Manupriya can be tested for their restoring ability and can be used for the development of restorers with specific quality requirements of Kerala and there by superior hybrid which can break the yield plateau of the high yielding varieties can be released