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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 Pathology × Author: Anjana R, Nair × Author: KAU × End date: 2010 × Start date: 2003 ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Microbial antagonists and resistance induced for the management of bacterial blight of anthurium
    (Department of Plant Pathology, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 2005) Anjana R, Nair; KAU; Mary, C A
    An investigation was undertaken for exploring the potential of microbial antagonists and chemical activators for the management of bacterial blight of anthurium. Different isolates of the pathogen, Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. dieffenbachiae were collected and Xad 6, the most virulent one was selected for further studies. The microbial flora from the rhizosphere and phyllosphere of healthy anthurium plants from various locations were isolated and screened for their efficacy in inhibiting X. axonopodis pv.dieffenbachiae under in vitro conditions. Among the microbes obtained, isolates of Bacillus sp. (B16) and Talaromyces sp. (F8) were the most effective. Nutreint agar proved to be the best media for B16 and the antagonist was also non-pathogenic to anthurium. The potential of chemical activators in management of bacterial blight of anthurium was also investigated both under in vitro and in vivo conditions. The in vitro studies revealed that chemical activators had no direct action on the pathogen, conforming to one of the characteristics of an activator for inducing disease resistance in plants (Systemic acquired resistance, SAR). Among the chemical activators tested under in vivo conditions, 500ppm potassium phosphonate and 25ppm acibenzolar-s-methyl showed considerable effect in reducing the per cent disease intensity. The best treatments from the above studies and some other treatments which exhibited good results against bacterial blight of anthurium from previous works were studied in a green house trial on ten month old tissue culture anthurium plants of Cancan variety. The treatments included B16, F8, 500 ppm potassium phosphonate, 25 ppm acibenzolar-s-methyl, crude extract of neem cake, 0.15 per cent of turmeric powder + sodium bicarbonate (10:1) and 100 ppm streptocycline. The result indicated that the treatments, B16 (Bacillus sp) and 0.15 per cent of turmeric powder +sodium bicarbonate (10:1) were effective as they showed least bacterial blight intensity. So it can be concluded that, a prophylactic root dip and foliar spray of Bacillus sp. (B16) or turmeric powder + sodium bicarbonate (10:1) @ 0.15 per cent were equally effective in managing bacterial blight of anthurium. The role of chemical activators on the other hand in combating the disease was next only to microbial antagonists and ecofriendly material.