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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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1991 - 19982
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Subject: Plant Breeding × Start date: 1962 × Type: Thesis × Thesis Type: Ph.D. ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Genetic analysis of productivity in relation to maturity in bunch groundnut
    (Department of Plant Breeding, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 1991) Ramakrishnan, M; KAU; Gopinathan Nair, V
    A preliminary evaluation of 63 bunch type of groundnut revealed that the genotypic coefficient of variation was highest for number of immature pods per plant which indicated the maximum genetic variability for the trait and lowest for oil content which indicated low variability for the trait. High heritability along with moderate genetic advance was obtained for shelling percentage and 100 kernel weight which showed the importance of additive genes in their control. A maturity index was formulated and on its basis the 63 types were classified in to three groups namely, extra early, early and medium. In the extra early group, 100 pod weight and 100 kernel weight were important components for pod yield. In the early group. Number of mature pods per plant, shelling percentage and 100 kernel weight were important components for pod yield. In the medium group, number of mature pods per plant, shelling percentage and 100 kernel weight were important components for pod yield. For oil yield in all the three groups, pod yield and shelling percentage were the important components. Line x Tester analysis with six extra early types as lines and three high productive types as testers indicated predominance of sca variance over gca variance indicating pre ponderance of non – additive gene action over additive for the traits studied. Chico was the best general combiner for earliness and TMV 2 was the best general combiner for pod yield. High yielding extra early recombinants were selected at 80 days after sowing from the 18 Fz populations for further testing and selection.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Genetic analysis of certain clones, hybrids and inbreds in cocoa
    (Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 1998) Rose Mary Francies, KAU; Achamma Oommen
    Genetic studies in cocoa (Theobroma cacao L.) using various population viz., clones, biclonal crosses, biclonal pair crosses and inbreds were undertaken in College of Horticulture, Kerala Agricultural University, Thrissur, during 1994-97. The study assessed variability, association of yield attributes and relative importance of these attributes for yield variation using multiple regression and path analysis. Selection indices, inbreeding depression and limits to genetic diversity for heterosis were also worked out. Wide spectrum of variability existed in the populations studied. The highest variability was observed in yield of dry beans/tree and precocity of bearing (pods/tree - 5 years from planting), whereas, traits pod width and bean width showed low variability. Clones GI 10.2, S 27.16, GI 14.17 of Clonal base population, hybrids H'8 (GI 5.9 x GII 23.3), H2 (M 13.12 x GI 5.9) of Series IV biclonal crosses and hybrids H4 (M 16.9 x GII 19:5), H3 (M 16.9 x GII 20.4) of Series 11 biclonal crosses, exhibited superior yield - performance. Yield however, recorded only moderate heritability and therefore moderate expected genetic advance. Strong correlation was observed for yield with pod weight, dry weight/bean and efficiency index but not with precocity of bearing, chlorophyll contents and net photosynthesis rate. Multiple regression and path analysis revealed the importance of dry weight/bean, bean size and efficiency index in determining the yield in cocoa. High correlation exhibited by many traits was due to indirect effects. Selection index for yield, based on the above traits viz., dry weight/bean, bean length, bean thickness and efficiency index recorded a relative efficiency of 150.35 per cent over direct selection. Inbreeding depression was observed for growth traits. The rate of depression was more in the second inbred generation as compared to that in the first inbred generation. Number of hybrids exhibiting relative heterosis in desirable direction ranged from one (eg. pod width, bean length and thickness) to seventeen (number of beans/pod). Considerable genetic divergence among clonal genotypes was evident. Results indicated that the chances for occurrence of a high frequency of heterotic crosses and high values of heterosis are more, when the parental divergence is moderate.