Thumbnail Image

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.

Browse

20061
Reset filters
Subject: Plant Pathology × Author: Abhilash Dinkar × Author: KAU × End date: 2009 × Start date: 2000 ×
Reset filters

Search Results

Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
  • Thumbnail Image
    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Viral diseases of Vanilla(Vanilla planifolia Andrews) in Kerala
    (Department of Plant Pathology, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 2006) Abhilash Dinkar; KAU; Joseph, P J
    Preliminary survey conducted in Kottayam and Idukki districts of Kerala indicated the incidence of three virus diseases in vanilla and were categorized as those producing a) Symptom Type No.1 b) Symptom Type No.2 and c) Symptom Type No.3. The most widely occurring virus disease was the one which produced Symptom Type No.1, the characteristic symptoms of which were mosaic pattern on leaves up on which necrotic spots developed later with leaf crinkling, distortion, and leaf size reduction. The virus is named as Vanilla mosaic virus disease (VMVD). The disease was prevalent in the two districts surveyed. The mean per cent disease incidence varied from 6.683 to 8.205 during summer season. The mean disease index varied from 2.553 to 2.976 during summer season .The virus was not sap transmissible to vanilla test plants but was easily transmissible to Chenopodium amaranticolor, exhibiting chlorotic local lesions in which highest per cent transmission was obtained using 0.1M sodium phosphate buffer (pH7.2). The disease was not transmitted by insects such as Aphis gossypii, A. craccivora and Bemisia tabaci. Hundred per cent transmission was obtained when infected cuttings were used as planting material. The virus was found to be transmitted to vanilla test plants by wedge and approach grafting and budding even though perfect graft and bud union did not establish. The virus has a dilution end point between10-4 and10-5, thermal inactivation point between 60and 65oC and longevity in vitro at room temperature between 24 and 48 hours and under refrigerated conditions between 48 and 72 hours. The virus could be transmitted only to Nicotiana glutinosa systemically and to C.amaranticolor with local lesions. Drastic reduction in total chlorophyll, chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b and total carbohydrate were observed in virus infected plant samples while total soluble protein and phenol content were greatly enhanced. Peroxidase, polyphenol oxidase and phenylalanine ammonia lyase activities were found to be increased in response to virus infection. SDS PAGE analysis revealed the presence of an additional major polypeptide band of 37 KDa in infected samples in addition to the identical bands. The virus was partially purified and antiserum was successfully produced with a titre between 1:500 and 1:1000. A rapid method of diagnosis of vanilla mosaic virus disease was developed employing microprecipitin and DAC- ELISA tests.