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
Characterization and identification of black pepper accessions (Piper nigrum L.) for stress tolerance and quality
(Department of plant breeding, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 2019) Prakash, K M; KAU; Jiji, Joseph
Black pepper (Piper nigrum L.), often described as the ‘King of spices’ is the most important spice crop, grown for its berries in the world. Indian pepper is preferred across the globe due to its intrinsic qualities. Foot rot is a devastating disease of black pepper. In the changing climate, drought can be a major threat in black pepper production. Hence, the present study was taken up at College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara and ICAR-IISR, Kozhikode to characterise and to identify superior accessions of black pepper for yield, quality and tolerance to biotic and abiotic stresses. Fifty accessions of black pepper in the bearing stage maintained in the National Active Germplasm Site of ICAR-IISR, Kozhikode formed the base material for the study. The accessions were characterised for fifty qualitative and fifty quantitative characters following the descriptor developed by IPGRI (1995). Wide variability was observed among the accessions for ten qualitative characters. Quantitative characters of shoot, leaf, spike and fruit also showed wide variability. Field tolerance to foot rot disease and pollu beetle infestation was observed among the accessions. Twenty accessions were selected from the base collection based on superiority of yield (> 450g green berries/vine) , field tolerance to foot rot disease infection (biotic susceptibility score 1) and pollu beetle infestation (biotic susceptibility score 1-3). They were further evaluated for biochemical principles of quality, tolerance to foot rot disease under artificial inoculation and tolerance to drought by physiological and biochemical analyses. Piperine, essential oil and oleoresin ranged from 3.61 - 6.96 per cent, 3.00 - 5.87 per cent and 7.10 - 11.18 per cent, respectively, across the accessions. The accessions with high value of piperine, essential oil and oleoresin were identified as 7293, 7211 and 7289 respectively. The two accessions identified viz. 7293 and 7252 contained more piperine than the highest of Panniyur 2 (6.6 per cent) reported among the released varieties . Artificial inoculation of selected accessions using Phytophthora capsici culture for screening for foot rot disease resistance based on over all disease severity index of both stem and leaf lesions showed that accession 7259 was moderately resistant. The selected accessions did not exhibit significant variation for various physiological and biochemical parameters at field capacity. However higher value of photosynthesis, chlorophyll content, chlorophyll stability index, relative water content and membrane stability index and low leaf temperature were observed for accessions viz. 7215, 7240, P 5 and 7241 after five days and ten days of moisture stress induction following field capacity compared to other accessions. Higher values of proline, SOD, catalase and peroxidase were also observed for these accessions. The visual scoring showed that accessions with higher values for most of physiological and biochemical parameters of drought tolerance viz. 7215, 7240, P5, and 7241 had lesser number of fallen leaves and more number of leaves retained at permanent wilting point (PWP). The accessions 7215 and 7240 took twenty days to reach PWP compared to eleven accessions which took only 16 days to reach PWP. Foliar nutrition with sulphate of potash, IISR - Power mix and Pink Pigmented Facultative Methylotrophs (PPFM) had positive effect on drought tolerance for the accessions (7215, 7240, P5 and 7241) having natural tolerance. The identified accessions with high yield , quality and tolerance to biotic or abiotic stress can be used for further breeding programme.
Open 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.
Open Access
Variability in asoka (Saraca asoca(Roxb.) de wilde)
(Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 2010) Vidhu Francis, Palathingal; KAU; Radhakrishnan, V V
Asoka (Saraca asoca) is a sacred tree among the Buddhists and Hindus. It is called sorrow-less tree as it removes the grief. The tree has immense medicinal properties. Its bark is mainly used for correcting uterine problems. The well-known Ayurvedic preparations of asoka bark are Asokarishtam and Asokaghrutham. Due to over exploitation of this tree for its bark, this has now become almost extinct. 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. 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. Therefore the present study was undertaken to assess morphological variations in existing germplasm and to study the reproductive biology of S. asoca. Collection of seeds and evaluation of seed and seedling traits, evaluation of therapeutical components and molecular characterisation of asoka were the other objectives of the study. Variability studies for morphological traits of asoka indicated that height of plant and stem girth have high correlation with bark yield as well as higher direct effect. These traits can be used for identifying better genotypes for higher bark yield. In discriminant function analysis, the selection index involving height of plant along with bark yield constituted for selection criteria among asoka genotypes. Using this selection index, accessions IC566463, IC566489, IC566488, IC566482 were selected as better accessions for higher bark yield. The 43 accessions maintained in germplasm of asoka at AICRP on M&AP were grouped into two major clusters based on morphological traits. These clusters further formed 6 clusters. Accession IC566488 grouped alone in one cluster indicated that this accession was different from all other accessions. In all the other 5 clusters, accessions from Thrissur was included. This indicated that accessions did not follow geographical distributions. Some of the accessions from Thrissur may have relationship with accessions from other districts. Reproductive biology of asoka was studied. It indicated that the reproductive traits like floral biology, anthesis, pollen morphology, its viability have variability among eight trees studied in KAU campus. Among the eight trees studied, ‘KAU8’ have better reproductive traits compared to the rest. Preliminary studies were carried out in pollination system and agents for pollination in asoka. The studies indicated that ants may be one of the pollinating agents. Seed and seedling behaviour of asoka were studied on seeds collected from 80 trees located in different districts of Kerala. Seed breadth, seed volume, height of plant and stem girth were identified as selection traits for better seedlings. Hence at seed stage, bigger sized seeds with higher seed volume will result into better seedlings. Vigorous seedlings is produced from tall seedlings with higher stem girth and in mature plants for higher bark yield, height of plant and stem girth can be selection traits. Thus the selection parameters were worked out in three stages in asoka. Based on seed and seedling selection parameters, OKL4, OKL2 from Odakkali, KKL2 from Kottakkal and TVM2 from Thiruvananthapuram were selected as better mother plants for higher bark yielding accessions. The biochemical constituents (phenol and tannin content) imparting medicinal properties were estimated among the different age groups of asoka. Both phenol and tannin contents were higher in bark compared to flower and leaves. About 50 per cent of therapeutical constituents are available in flowers and hence at non destructive level, flowers of asoka can be substituted for bark. The trees KAU8, KAU7, KAU6 and among the accessions IC566474, IC566467 and among the seedlings VKA6, VKA7, VKA8, KMK3 indicated higher phenol and tannin content compared to rest. Molecular characterisation among the selected asoka accessions representing the different districts of Kerala were studied. RAPD analysis was attempted among ten accessions selected. Dendrogram was constituted based on pooled RAPD data. The ten selected accessions were grouped into two major clusters as done in morphological grouping. In grouping at molecular level, the accession IC566488 kept apart as a single group indicating the same trend at its morphological level.The clustering pattern based on molecular characterisation did not follow geographical distribution of accessions.
Open Access
Cross compatibility analysis for production of hybrids in anthurium andreanum linden
(Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 2010) MadhuKumar, K; KAU; Mayadevi, P
The present study, ‘Cross compatibility analysis for production of hybrids in Anthurium andreanum Linden’ was undertaken to identify suitable parents with commercial qualities and to determine the cross compatibility among the selected parents in anthurium. The present investigation was carried out in the Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, College of Agriculture, Vellayani during the period 2006-2009. The analysis of variance revealed significant variation among the 40 genotypes for the eighteen characters studied. This reveals the high genetic potential for the improvement in this crop. Variability studies indicated high phenotypic and genotypic coefficients of variation for the characters for anthocyanin content, pollen fertility, leaf size/leaf area, spathe size and spadix length. The high heritability coupled with high genetic advance values were found for characters plant height, leaf size/leaf area, internodal length, spathe size, total anthocyanin content, spadix length, inclination of candle with spathe, number of flowers per spadix, life of spadix, days to initiation of female phase, days to inter phase, duration of male phase, pollen fertility and pollen size. These characters are therefore controlled by additive gene action and amenable to genetic improvement through selection. Pollen fertility estimated using acetocarmine method indicated that most of the genotypes had low fertility values. Liver Red had the highest pollen fertility of 43.01 per cent followed by Lady Jane (36.14 per cent). Pollen emergence was low in the months from March to June, during which the average maximum and minimum temperatures were relatively high. Pollen emergence was highest during October to December months. A study of six qualitative characters such as colour of young leaf and petiole, spathe colour, spathe texture, candle colour and type of inflorescence axis also showed considerable variation among the genotypes studied. Plant height was found to have highly significant positive phenotypic and genotypic correlation with leaf size/leaf area, internodal length, total Anthocyanin content, spadix length, number of flowers per spadix and life of spadix. Number of flowers per spadix had significant positive genotypic correlation with plant height, leaf size/leaf area, internodal length, spathe size, spadix length, total anthocyanin content, life of spadix, pollen fertility and pollen size. Spadix length had significant positive genotypic correlation with plant height, leaf size/leaf area, internodal length, spathe size, number of flowers per spadix, life of spadix and pollen size. Days to initiation of female phase exhibited significant negative correlation with plant height, leaf size/leaf area, spadix length and pollen fertility. The environmental correlations were absent for almost all pairs of characters except for number of leaves/spadices per plant with spathe size. Path analysis revealed that spadix length, plant height, leaf size and life of spadix had high positive direct effect on number of flowers per spadix. Mahalanobis D2 analysis clustered the 40 genotypes into seven clusters. The maximum number of genotypes (17) were included in Cluster I, followed by cluster II (7), cluster III (5), cluster IV (5) and cluster V (4). Clusters VI and VII had one genotype each. Maximum divergence was shown between the Clusters II and VI, while the minimum divergence between clusters I and II. The intracluster distance was highest for the Cluster II. Among the 13 characters considered, life of spadix contributed maximum towards divergence followed by days to initiation of female phase. Grouping of genotypes into different clusters did not reflect the geographical origin of the varieties. Selection index analysis revealed that genotype Liver Red attained the maximum selection index value followed by PR x LR and PR x DT (1) and the minimum estimates were recorded for Rembolina, W x LJ and Corolix. The grouping of genotypes by selection indices followed almost the same pattern as their clustering pattern in the D2 analysis. Intervarietal hybridization was done to analyse the cross compatibility between 15 genotypes based on the percentage of candles bearing fruits, fruit set and seed germination. A total of 127 crosses were attempted based on the availability of receptive spadices and fresh pollen, out of which 80 were found to be successful. In almost all cross combinations the percentage of candles bearing fruits ranged from 50 to 100 per cent. Among the 15 genotypes, the maximum percentage of candles bearing berries was obtained for PR x OG (90.00 per cent) followed by AW (66.67 per cent) and PR x LR (65.00 per cent). The lowest value 5 per cent was obtained for Esmeralda and 11.11 per cent for Dragon’s Tongue. The number of fruits per candle ranged from 5 in Esmeralda x (PR x OG) to 85 in (PR x OG) x (OG x DT). The crosses LR x DT, (OG x DT) x (PR x OG), LR x FR and (PR x OG) x DT also recorded higher number of fruits per candle. The average number of fruits per candles was highest for Liver Red and lowest for Esmeralda. The percentage of fruit set was below 50 per cent for all the crosses. The lowest and highest percentage of fruit set was observed for Ceasor Violet and ‘Liver Red respectively. The berries obtained from different cross combinations took 4.5 to 7 months to mature. Most of the crosses had a high percentage of single seeded berries compared to double seeded berries except for the cross FR x LR. Among single seeded berries maximum seed size was for AW x (PR x OG). In a berry largest seed among the two seeded berries were observed for the crosses AW x (PR x OG) followed by [(PR x LR) x (PR x DT (2)]. The number of days taken for germination varied from four to nine days. The seeds obtained from most of the crosses showed germination except three crosses i.e., DT x LR, (KR x LR) x LJ and Esmeralda x (PR x OG) did not germinate at all. Percentage of germination was lowest in [PR x DT (2)] x LJ and highest in (PR x LR) x C. Seedlings of 57 out of 73 crosses that germinated survived for more than four months. The seedling survival percentage ranged from 38.46 per cent in LJ x (PR x OG) to 81.25 per cent in (KR x LR) x DT. The highest average survival was recorded by Liver Red and lowest was recorded for the genotype Lady Jane. Compatibility parameters estimated based on the performance of the fifteen genotypes as pollen parents. Highest percentage of candles bearing fruits was shown by PR x OG followed by Fla Red, Dragon’s Tongue and PR x LR. Lowest percentage were recorded for Flirt and KR x LR. Number of fruits per candle was the highest for the genotype PR x DT (2) followed by PR x OG, Dragon’s Tongue and Acropolis white. In Lady Jane, Flirt and KR x LR the number of fruits were relatively lower. Higher percentage fruit set was observed for the genotypes Dragon’s Tongue while it was lowest in Lady Jane. Percentage of seed germination was the highest for Fla Red and lowest for Lady Jane. Scoring of the compatibility reactions based on the percentage of fruiting candles, fruit set and seed germination on a scale ranging from zero to nine. After scoring the different genotypes, the crosses with highest compatibility score was for the crosses (PR x OG) x (OG x DT), (PR x LR) x C, FR x DT, AW x (PR x OG), (OG x DT) x (PR x OG), (PR x LR) x (PR x OG),PR x DT (2) x (PR x OG), (OG x DT) x LR, LJ x LR, (PR x OG) x DT, (PR x OG) x LR, (PR x OG) x (PR x LR) and (PR x LR) x FR. So these were the most compatible crosses. The performance of the variety as female parent was found to be different from its performance as male parent. The female parents PR x OG, PR x LR, Lady Jane, OG x DT and PR x DT (2) got the high varietal scores. Among male parents PR x OG, DT, OG x DT, FR and PR x LR got the high varietal scores. So PR x OG, OG x DT and PR x LR could be judged as the best male as well as female parents. Among the seedlings of the successful crosses maximum number of days for maturity of leaves was taken by the cross LJ x (PR x LR) and the least number of days was taken by C x (PR x OG). Number of leaves ranged from 4.50 in DT x FR to 6.33 in [(PR x OG) x (OG x DT)]. The leaf area was maximum for the cross LR x FR and it was minimum for LJ x (PR x OG). The colour of young leaf showed a range from brown to reddish brown to greenish brown to green. The colour of petiole also varied from brown to reddish brown to greenish brown to green.
Open Access
Genetic analysis of yield and leaf curl virus resistance in chilli (Capsicum spp.)
(Department of Plant Breeding, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 2010) Anandhi, K; KAU; Abdul Khader, K M
Pepper fruits (Capsicum spp.) are among the most consumed vegetables as fresh green or red and dried whole or ground forms in the world for its pungency. Leaf curl virus is an important biotic stress transmitted by the vector, Bemisia tabaci. Controlling the vector can be the only way to manage the disease and results in only partial control of disease. The incidence of disease is more in summer season and makes the cultivation uneconomical. There is an immediate need to develop leaf curl resistant varieties especially for summer cultivation. Hence the present investigation was undertaken at the Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, College of Agriculture, Vellayani during 2007-2009 with the objective of estimating the combining ability, heterosis and gene action involved in the inheritance of yield and leaf curl virus resistance. Five resistant C. frutescens accessions Mangalapuram Local, Thavanur Local, Kayamkulam Local, Mavelikkara Local and Nenmara Local were crossed in L x T pattern with three high yielding susceptible varieties Jwalamukhi, Jwalasakhi and Vellayani Athulya and 15 F1s were produced and evaluated along with the parents in randomized block design. Analysis of variance revealed highly significant genotypic difference for all the characters studied. The observations recorded were plant height (cm), number of branches, number of days to first flowering, plant spread (cm), duration of flowering (fruiting span), number of fruits per plant, fruit length (cm), fruit width (cm), pedicel - fruit ratio, fruit colour at intermediate stage, green fruit yield per plant (g), average fruit weight (g), number of seeds per fruit, hundred seed weight (g), duration of crop, vector population and virus disease scoring. Higher estimates of PCV and GCV were recorded for vulnerability index and green fruit yield per plant. High heritability coupled with high genetic advance were exhibited for days to first flowering, duration of flowering, number of fruits per plant, green fruit yield per plant, number of seeds per fruit, duration of crop and vulnerability index. Combining ability analysis showed that the line Mavelikkara Local and Nenmara Local were alone good general combiners for fruit yield along with leaf curl resistance. Four hybrids viz., Mavelikkara Local x Jwalasakhi, Nenmara Local x Vellayani Athulya, Kayamkulam Local x Jwalamukhi and Thavanur Local x Jwalamukhi exhibited significant sca effect for fruit yield. Considering per se performance, standard heterosis and sca effect two hybrids Mavelikkara Local x Jwalasakhi and Nenmara Local x Vellayani Athulya were found to be superior. Generation mean analysis was carried out using six-parameter model. Six generations viz. P1, P2, F1, F2, B1, B2 were built up among the crosses Mavelikkara Local x Jwalasakhi and Nenmara Local x Vellayani Athulya. Presence of additive, dominance and epistatic interaction for all the characters indicated that hybridization or recombination-breeding programme can be followed for future breeding.
Open Access
Assessment and induction of variability in plumbago species for high plumbagin content
(Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 2010) Raji Vasudevan, Namboodiri; Radhakrishnan, V V
The study entitled "Assessment and induction of variability in Plumbago species for high plumbagin content" was carried out in the Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara during 2005-2009. The main objective of the study was to induce variability in Plumbago species for high plumbagin content through -in vitro mutagenesis. A detailed survey was conducted throughout Kerala and accessions of Plumbago were collected from different ecogeographical regions ranging from Western Ghats to coastal regions of Kerala. The species Plumbago rosea seemed to be mainly distributed in highlands and medium altitude especially in the midlands of Kerala. The passport data of the collected accessions were prepared and indigenous collection(IC) numbers were obtained from NBPGR, New Delhi. Twenty five accessions of Plumbago rosea and one accession of Plumbago zeylanica were catalogued. Twenty six accessions thus collected were evaluated in replicated trial for genetic variability with respect to their biometrical traits and quality. To know the causes of failure of seed set in Plumbago rosea floral biology of the two species of Plumbago was studied . .The data were subjected to statistical analysis and results interpreted. The twenty six accessions were grouped into seven clusters which showed that there is no parallelism between the geographical distribution and clustering pattern. The path coefficient analysis indicated that large sized leaves and increased dry root weight contributed maximum to plumbagin content. Based on the ranking for dry root weight and plumbagin content three accessions were subjected to in vitro mutagenesis. In vitro regeneration through direct organogenesis and indirect organogenesis was standardised in Plumbago rosea in MS medium. Nodal segments were identified as best explants showing direct regeneration. The in vitro regenerated plants from nodal cultures on cultivation produced significantly large tuberous roots with moderate plumbagin content compared to conventional rooted cuttirigs. The callus derived from leaves, regenerat~d shoots, and roots. Thus, mass multiplication of Plumbago rosea through tissue culture was standardised. In vitro mutagenesis of selected accessions of P. rosea was successfully carried out. Based on percentage of regeneration, LDso values of 20 Gy and 40 Gy were fixed for nodal cultures and callus cultures respectively. The hardened plants obtained from selected accessions through in vitro mutagenesis showed significant variation for leaf number and size. Based on these characters variants were selected and carried over for field establishment in pot culture. The tissue culture variants on field establishment showed wide variability with respect to its stature, plant type and other morphological traits. Three in vitro mutants having plant type with large leaves and short stature for high plumbagin content were identified. The plumbagin content of these in vitro mutants have to be evaluated for its commercial exploitation.
Open Access
Characterisation and systematic evaluation of genetic resources of the genus Vigna
(Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, College of Horticulture,Vellanikkara, 2010) Latha, M; KAU; Presannakumari, K T
Vigna belonging to the family Leguminoseae is a large genus comprising of seven sub-genera and over 150 species. The two sub-genera Vigna and Ceratotropis contain the most important cultivated species. The taxonomical identification of many of these species is still confusing. The closely related wild species serve as a source of many desirable genes that can be utilised in the interspecific hybridisation programmes. This is possible only when the relationships among the different Vigna species are well understood. In this context, the present study “Characterisation and systematic evaluation of genetic resources of the genus Vigna” was undertaken in the Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, College of Horticulture at Vellanikkara. Investigations were undertaken to characterise the accessions of Vigna germplasm available at National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources (NBPGR) Regional Station, Vellanikkara, Thrissur using morphological markers and to confirm the results using biochemical and molecular markers in distinct variants belonging to different taxa as well as to prepare a key for the identification of different Vigna taxa. The 150 accessions available at NBPGR Regional Station, Vellanikkara were subjected to morphological, biochemical and molecular characterisation. For morphological characterisation 48 qualitative and 24 quantitative characters were taken. The biochemical characterisation of the selected distinct variants from each taxa was done by isozymes, peroxidase and poly-phenol oxidase. The molecular characterisation was done with Inter Sequence Repeat Analysis using 10 different primers. The clustering patterns based on all three characterisation were compared and key for identification of different taxa of Vigna was developed. Among the qualitative characters evaluated, type of seed germination, nature of attachment of primary leaves, size of stipule, shape of stipule, presence of ligule, shape of bracteole, nature of pod attachment to peduncle, curvature of pod, shape of seed and shape of hilum were distinct for each taxa. Variability was observed in size and shape of stipules and bracteoles. Based on the qualitative characters the 150 accessions were reclassified into 22 taxa. One accession originally classified as V.radiata var.sublobata was found to be distinct taxa of Vigna and hence regrouped as distinct taxa. All the 24 quantitative characters studied exhibited wide range of variability. The keel pocket was present in all taxa except V.unguiculata, V.marina and V.pilosa. The length of keel pocket also varied from taxa to taxa. Cluster analysis based on qualitative, quantitative, biochemical and molecular characters resulted in 10, 5, 4 and 12 clusters respectively. A statistical methodology was worked out to compare the parallelism among the different clustering patterns. The result showed that there existed a similarity between clusters formed based on quantitative and qualitative characters, with majority of accessions of each taxa in a qualitative cluster falling in the same quantitative cluster. The accessions taken for isozyme and molecular study were distinct. Accessions of same taxa which fell in same clusters based on isozyme and molecular markers fell in different clusters based on quantitative characters and vice-versa, indicating the differences and similarities among these accessions at isozyme and molecular level. Key quantitative characters were also identified for each taxa based on weighted average. Based on morphological, biochemical and molecular characters, a dichotomous key was developed to identify different taxa. The key that is now proposed is different from the existing one which is based on floral and fruit characters alone.
Open Access
Development of Cytoplasmic male sterile line in an identified rice variety of Kerala through marker assisted back crossing
(Department of Plant Breeding & Genetics, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 2019) Tejashree Shivaputra, Lachyan; KAU; Jayalekshmy, V G
Production and productivity of rice, the staple food for over half of the world's population, is insufficient to meet the demand of the increasing population in the rice consuming nations. One of the readily available and economically viable technological options for meeting the projected global demand of rice is exploitation of heterosis through large-scale cultivation of rice hybrids. The role of hybrids in enhancing the productivity is widely acknowledged. The commercial rice hybrids are currently based on cytoplasmic genic male sterility (CGMS) system. The availability of stable cytoplasmic male sterility and fertility restoring system is vital for commercial exploitation of heterosis in rice. The cytoplasmic male sterile (CMS) lines introduced from China were found unsuitable to use as such in developing hybrid rice in India. Limited resources of CMS and low variation of CMS lines causes genetic vulnerability. Therefore, to diversify CMS lines, breeders can transfer this character to the existing putative maintainer lines through repeated backcrosses. So the present study entitled “Development of cytoplasmic male sterile line in an identified rice variety of Kerala through marker assisted back crossing” was undertaken as an initial step for the development of hybrid rice for Kerala with the objective of transferring the cytoplasmic male sterility from the CMS line to the Kerala rice variety, identified as maintainer for CGMS system through marker assisted back crossing. This study was conducted from December 2016 to August 2019. In the present study, four Kerala rice varieties were used, which were reported as potential maintainers of CRMS31A line in the research work conducted by Das (2017). For identification of the best maintainer among the four potential maintainers under study, these lines were crossed with CMS line CRMS31A. The pollen fertility per cent and spikelet fertility percent of hybrids was lowest in the cross CRMS 31A x Jyothi and highest in the cross CRMS 31A x Aruna. The highest pollen and spikelet fertility percent was observed in cross with Aruna with 60% seed set. Kanchana and Bharathy on crossing with CRMS31A showed 91% and 57% pollen sterility which lead to 99.11% and 74.83% of spikelet sterility respectively. Among 30 F1’s obtained from the cross CRMS31A x Jyothi, two F1 plants showed 99.99% pollen sterility and 100% spikelet sterility. Pollen and spikelet sterility of the hybrids indicated that Kanchana, Bharathy and Aruna were partial maintainers for CMS line. Rice variety Jyothi, alone was identified as maintainer for cytoplasmic male sterile line CRMS31A. The transfer of ms gene was confirmed at molecular level using mitochondrial WA-CMS-specific marker “drrcms”. Foreground selection was carried out in 30 F1 plants and it showed homozygous band similar to male sterile line. F1 plants with 99.99% pollen sterility and 100% spikelet sterility, were backcrossed with maintainer Jyothi to obtain BC1F1 seeds.. These BC1F1plants were screened with cytoplasmic male sterility specific marker and all the plants were identified with gene of interest i.e. cms gene. Selection of polymorphic markers was done for background selection in the identified plants with 100% spikelet sterility. 170 genome wide SSR primers were used for screening of the maintainer and CMS line to locate 31 SSR markers specific to the maintainer. The background selection was carried out on 17 BC1F1 plants using 31 loci polymorphic in the parents. The BC1F1 plants with highest percentage of recurrent parent genome recovery were selected based on the background markers. The maximum percentage of recovery of recurrent parent genome was found to be 68.13% in BC1F1 generation. Pollen sterility in these plants was also studied by screening for fertility restoration gene (Rf). Out of 10 Rf markers used for screening only four markers for Rf4 Rf6 and Rf7 gene were present in the maintainer line Jyothi. The identified markers were then used for screening of BC1F1 plants. It was observed that the BC1F1plants had only Rf7 gene. Pollen and spikelet sterility percent of these plants could not be recorded due to absence of flowering even on the 240th day after sowing. The plants were under vegetative phase upto 260-270 days, after which they started wilting. Due to absence of flowering, these plants were screened with marker specific to flowering time gene Hd3a. On gel documentation the band was obtained revealing the presence of Hd3a gene at 179bp. To confirm the possible reason for absence of flowering even in the presence of Hd3a gene, the expression of Hd3a gene was studied. Expression was studied at different stages of plant growth i.e. 15, 30, 45, 60, 75 and 110 days after sowing in Jyothi variety and 240 days old BC1F1 plants. It was observed that the expression of target gene in the variety Jyothi was reduced at 30 days after sowing. But in later stages, gradual increase in the expression level was observed. A drastic increase in expression was recorded at flowering stage (75DAS) of the Jyothi variety and then the expression was gradually reduced towards maturity stage. Whereas the Hd3a gene was not expressed in BC1F1 plants i.e. the gene was silenced. The reason for non expression of Hd3a gene in the background of sterile cytoplasm and ms gene requires further investigation. Advanced generation of the cross between another CMS line, UPRI95-17A and maintainer line Kanchana, which was developed earlier under a project for transferring male sterility to Kanchana variety was further studied. Sterility was studied by pollen test and spikelet test. Three of the plants showed 99.09% - 100% pollen sterility and 100% spikelet sterility. All the plants were screened with 28 SSR markers. Foreground selection was carried out using mitochondrial WA-CMS-specific marker “drrcms”. Band obtained in the advanced generation plants were similar to the band of male sterile parent. Recovery of the recurrent parent genome was analysed using 28 SSR markers. One plant of this advanced generation, recovered 92.86% of recurrent parent genome. Observations were taken on eight morphological traits viz. plant length, leaf length, leaf breadth, total number of tillers, panicle length, days for flowering, number of spikelets per panicle and pollen fertility percentage. It was observed that out of eight quantitative traits, four traits i.e. plant length, leaf length, total number of tillers and panicle length were almost similar to the maintainer line Kanchana. The number of spikelets per panicle and leaf breadth was less than Kanchana. In the present study, Kerala rice varieties, Jyothi and Kanchana showed 100% pollen and spikelet sterility when crossed with CMS line CRMS 31A and UPRI95-17A respectively. On the basis of pollen and spikelet sterilirty Jyothi and Kancjana were identified as maintainers for WA-CMS line CRMS 31A and UPRI95-17A. The reason for non expression of Hd3a gene in the background of sterile cytoplasm i.e. backcrossed plants of Jyothi variety needs to be further investigated. The identified plants from the backcross population of UPRI95-17A and Kanchana, with higher recurrent parent genome (RPG) recovery percentage can be backcrossed for another generation to get RPG of 99%. Later it can be used for commercial hybrid seed production with compatible restorers for UPRI95-17A. This will be the first CMS line in the background of Kerala rice variety.
Open Access
Breeding cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.) for resistance to spotted pod borer (Maruca vitrata Fab.)
(Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, Vellanikkara, 2018) Ambavane Ajinkya Rajendra; KAU; Jiji Joseph
Cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.] is important pulse crop rich in nutrients, especially proteins. This crop is cultivated in the tropics of Asia, Africa and other parts of the world. Nevertheless, the production of cowpea is unable to achieve its summit. One of the prime reasons for this is the infestation of a notorious pest, the spotted pod borer, (Maruca vitrata Fab.; Lepidoptera: Crambidae). Spotted pod borer is one of the most important post-flowering pests of cowpea in the tropics. It is a major lepidopteran pest and damage cause to cowpea by the pest almost always crosses economic threshold level. Hence, the present investigation was conducted in the Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, Kerala Agricultural University, Thrissur during 2015 to 2018 with the objective of identification and incorporation of resistance against spotted pod borer in high yielding varieties of cowpea and assessment of parental polymorphism at the molecular level Thirty genotypes of cowpea formed the material for the study. These genotypes were subjected to field screening against spotted pod borer. These genotypes were also evaluated for morphological and biochemical basis of resistance. Five selected genotypes from experiment 1 then hybridised with four high yielding genotypes viz., Geethika, Vellayani Jyothika, Lola and Kashi Kanchan following Line × Tester mating design. Twenty F 1 hybrids evaluated for field resistance and the morphological basis of resistance. Progenies of selected F 1 hybrids grown as F 2 populations and evaluated for same parameters as like F 1 s. Thirty genotypes were also subjected to molecular screening by 40 SSR primers. Wide variation was observed in terms of different damage parameters. Ten genotypes viz., Hridya, Palakkadan thandan payar, EC 300039, EC 98668, EC 101216, IC 52110, IC 39945, IC 2918, IC 39922 and IC 39916 recorded total damage below five per cent. Among them, IC 39922 observed to have no flower bud and flower damage, EC 300039, EC 98668, IC 52110, IC 39945, IC 2918 and IC 39916 recorded no flower damage, whereas, Palakkadan thandan payar, IC 39945, IC 2918 and IC 39947 were free from pod damage. The highest damage was recorded in the variety Bhagyalakshmy (48.46 %) followed by variety Lola (30.04 %). Analysis of the morphological basis of resistance to spotted pod borer revealed the negative correlation of trichome density and length on flower bud, trichome density on the pod and pod wall thickness with respective damage parameters. With respect to the biochemical basis of resistance to spotted pod borer, total sugar content, reducing sugar content and non-reducing sugar content of flower bud and pod showed a positive correlation with damage parameters, but the correlation was not significant. However, the total protein content of pod showed a strong and positive correlation with pod damage. Total phenol content of flower bud showed strong negative correlation with damage parameters. Polyphenol oxidase activity in flower bud and pod exhibited a strong negative correlation with damage parameters. The crude fibre content of pod also showed a strong negative correlation with pod damage. In experiment 3, three SSR primers viz., CLM0061, CLM0295 and CLM0300 recorded high polymorphic information content (0.70, 0.71 and 0.76, respectively). Primer CLM0190 observed to have high amplicon size (307.03-415.73 bp). Jaccard’s similarity coefficient was highest between IC 52118 and IC 39916 (0.643) and was lowest between Kashi Kanchan and TVX-944 (0.022). Cluster analysis of SSR data grouped 30 genotypes in 22 clusters, and the 21 st cluster was observed to have more members (3 genotypes). Most resistant genotype, IC 2918, grouped in a separate cluster which proved its diverse nature from other genotypes. Principal component analysis of SSR data placed three yard-long bean genotypes viz., Geethika, Vellayani Jyothika and Lola near to each other in a two-dimensional score plot. The same analysis also formed two clusters with more number of genotypes which placed resistant and susceptible genotypes separately. In field screening of F 1 hybrids, Hybrid 20 observed to have total damage below 5 per cent. Eight hybrids recorded total damage in the range of 5 to 10 per cent. These hybrids were selected for next experiment. Line × Tester analysis of F 1 s revealed Kashi Kanchan, EC 98668 and IC 2918 as a good combiner for resistance against spotted pod borer. Hybrid 5, Hybrid 6, Hybrid 10, Hybrid 11, Hybrid 13, Hybrid 15, Hybrid 16, Hybrid 17, Hybrid 18, Hybrid 19 and Hybrid 20 observed to have desired negative heterosis (mid-parent) for total damage. In F 2 plant screening, Hybrid 1 population recorded low mean for total damage (6.76 %), whereas, the population of Hybrid 3 recorded high mean (12.17 %). Around 100 plants of F 2 generation recorded total damage below ten per cent. Out of them, around 38 plants also registered good yield. These plants should be further evaluated to isolate high yielding resistant segregants.

Kerala Agricultural University, Thrissur

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