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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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Subject: Plant Breeding and Genetics × Author: Abhijatha, A × Author: KAU × Start date: 2012 × Type: Thesis × Thesis Type: M.Sc ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Evaluation of sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) genotypes to the shaded uplands of Southern region
    (Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, College of Agriculture , Vellayani, 2013) Abhijatha, A; KAU; Arya, K
    The present investigation on ‘Evaluation of sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) genotypes to the shaded uplands of Southern region’, with an objective to identify sesame genotypes suitable for shaded uplands, was conducted at the Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, College of Agriculture, Vellayani during 2011-2013. The germplasm was evaluated for morphological traits and yield attributes, genetic variability, degree and direction of association, direct and indirect effects of various components on yield and genetic divergence analysis. The sesame germplasm consisting of thirty three accessions collected from different parts of Kerala, Karnataka and Maharashtra were assessed for the extent of variability, heritability and genetic advance, the relationship among the yield and associated traits, the direct and indirect effects of characters towards yield and divergence of different genotypes.Analysis of variance showed significant differences among the genotypes for almost all the characters studied. High and moderate phenotypic and genotypic coefficients of variation (PCV and GCV) were noticed for most of the yield contributing characters. Highest and lowest PCV and GCV were recorded for number of capsules per unit length and 1000-seed weight respectively. High estimates of heritability coupled with high to moderate genetic advance as per cent over mean was recorded for all the yield associated traits except for days to maturity, oil content and 1000-seed weight, which exhibited high heritability with low genetic advance indicating non-additive gene action. Yield had positive and significant association with the yield contributing characters such as plant height, number of primary branches, number of capsules per plant, length of capsule and number of seeds per capsule, signifying that selection based on these characters may improve yield. The highest genotypic and phenotypic correlation with yield was observed for number of capsules per plant. Path analysis revealed that number of capsules per plant had the highest positive direct effect on seed yield per plant followed by number of seeds per capsule. Number of primary branches per plant and days to maturity had the maximum positive indirect effect on seed yield per plant through number of capsules per plant. The thirty three genotypes were grouped into six clusters among which cluster IV, V and VI had only one genotype each. Maximum number of genotypes were grouped in cluster I with thirteen genotypes. The intercluster distance was maximum between clusters IV and VI whereas it was minimum between clusters V and VI. The selection indices were worked out for thirty three genotypes based on yield and yield attributing characters. Based on the ranks obtained, the genotypes SI 7 (RT - 351 from ORARS, Kayamkulam) and SI 12 (DS - 5 from Dharwad) were the superior genotypes identified which are suitable for the shaded uplands. These genotypes possessed maximum number of capsules per plant, length of capsule and number of seeds per capsule and seed yield.