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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: Deepa Rani, C V × End date: 2019 × Start date: 2015 × Type: Thesis × Thesis Type: Ph.D ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Strain evaluation and production technology of shittake mushroom ( Lentinula edodes ( Berk. ) pegler)
    (Department of Plant Pathology, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 2016) Deepa Rani, C V; KAU; Lulu Das
    The present investigation on "Strain evaluation and production technology of Shiitake mushroom (Lentinula edodes (Berk.) Pegler' was conducted at Department of Plant Pathology, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, Thiruvananthapuram during the period 2012-2015. The aim of the experiment was to exploit various strains of Lentinula spp. for novel production technology and their phylogeny analysis through physiological and molecular studies. Surveys were collected during pre and post monsoon periods of May to December from different parts of Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Wayanad, Idukki, Pathanamthitta, Kannur and Kasargode districts. Six isolates of sp. (VLYN- 1 to VLYN-13) obtained during the survey were identified and compared with procured reference strains of Lentinula edodes (LE-1 to LE-5 from GB Pant University of Agricultural and Technology, Pantnagar, Uttarakhand) and LE-6 strain (Maharana Pratap University of Agriculture and Technology, Udaipur) . Morphologically the native isolates of Lentinus spp. had concave, funnel and convex pileus with varying colors and were leathery in nature.L. edodes strains in contrast had convex pileus with chocolate brown and golden yellow sporocarps which were fleshy and edible. Phylogenetic analysis of all six strains of L. edodes using RAPD markers confirmed the variability between the strains. Maximum similarity coefficient of 74.10 per cent was observed between LE-2 and LE-6 strains while LE-2 and LE-4 strains showed a minimum similarity coefficient of 35.70 per cent. Further studies by ITS sequencing showed that all the L. edodes strains tested in the study showed 99- 100 per cent similarity with the known sequences off L. edodes available in NCBI database while that of native isolates showed 99- 100 per cent similarity to Lentinus tuber-regium and Lentinus connatus thus confirming the variability between Lentinus and Lentinula sp. All the six strains of L. edodes, showed maximum mycelial growth in malt extract peptone dextrose agar in solid and oat meal broth in liquid medium. L. edodes strains preferred temperature of 20 °C with an acidic pH of 6. Dark and ambient light conditions favored maximum mycelial growth and biomass production for L. edodes culture. Although a minimum period of 16.33 days was required for full mycelial run in maize grains but due to comparatively less contamination rate in paddy grains which took 18.33 days for completion of mycelial run were selected as best substrate for further studies. Different substrates were evaluated for the development of a cultivation package for shiitake mushroom. Results showed that LE-1 strain took minimum of 71.00 days for initiation of sporocarp in sawdust supplemented with 20 per cent wheat bran. Hard wood sawdust especially of teakwood was used in the study. The substrate based on paddy straw and banana pseudo stem were not found effective for pinhead initiation and thus failed to produce sporocarps. LE-1 produced maximum sporocarp (11.33) in sawdust + 20 per cent wheat bran which was followed by LE-3 (10.63) in sawdust + 20 per cent rice bran. Maximum yield of 290.66 g/ 500 g substrate was obtained in sawdust + 20 per cent wheat bran by LE-6 strain. Maximum biological efficiency of 58.13 per cent was also recorded in LE-6 in sawdust supplemented with 20 per cent wheat bran substrate. Substrates like paddy straw and sawdust amended with 20 per cent wheat bran substrates were evaluated for the development of native isolates of Lentinus tuberregium and Lentinus connatus . Results showed that maximum biological efficiency of 58.00 per cent was obtained by Lentinus tuber-regium whereas 36.60per cent biological efficiency by Lentinus connatus in sawdust amended with 20 per cent wheat bran substrate. Nutrient analysis of all the six strains showed that carbohydrate content ranged between 35.29 per cent to 40.23 per cent, protein 18.33 per cent to 21.66 per cent, crude fibre 22.33 per cent to 27.33 per cent, Vitamin- C 2.53 per cent to 3.50 per cent, ash 2.70 per cent to 4.40 per cent and lipid 2.46 per cent to 3.60 per cent. Mineral content of L. edodes included Ca (11.00 mg to 19.00 mg/ 100 g), Mg (0.46 to 1.10 mg/ 100 g), Fe (1.36 mg to 1.80 mg/ 100 g), Mn (1.53 mg to 2.63 mg), P (1.65 mg to 2.87 mg), K (16.33 mg to 25.20 mg), Na (13.00 mg to 23.66 mg) and Zn (19.66 mg to 28.33 mg/ 100 g). Sensory evaluation of mushroom products made from L. edodes was carried out by a panel of judges for various characters of which mushroom masala scored maximum for texture, taste, flavor and overall acceptability when compared to other recipes like mushroom cutlet, scramble, soup, baji and biscuit. As part of the study, paddy grain was found to be the most suitable substrate for spawn production of L. edodes and teakwood sawdust amended with 20 per cent wheat bran was the most efficient bed substrate. LE-6 strain was superior in terms of yield and biological efficiency. Therefore findings of the above investigation recommends the adoption of a suitable cultivation package for shiitake mushroom by using low cost substrates (hardwood sawdust) available in Kerala in plains and hilly regions.