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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: KAU × End date: 1994 × Start date: 1994 ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Improvement on the techniques for the cultivation and preservation of tropical species of mushrooms
    (Department of Plant Pathology, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 1994) Balakrishnan, B; KAU; Chandrasekharan Nair, M
    Intensive collections made from certain selected areas of Kerala yielded a total of eight species of Pleurotus, one species each of Volvariella and Tricholoma, namely V. esculenta and T. lobayense respectively from the native flora. Various species collected were identified and based on the preliminary observations made on their adaptability for large scale cultivation, among the Pleurotus two species have been selected for detailed study along with the other standard cultures procured from various mushroom research centres of the country. The native isolate of T. lobayense in the present study is the first record of the species from Kerala. Detailed studies have been done on various aspects of cultivation of pleurotus spp. With a view to improve the already known technologies so as to suit the conditions of Kerala. The two native species of pleurotus selected have been domesticated and compared with other standard cultures on their performance. Based on the observations made in the seasonal influence, yield and market qualities the species most suited for large scale cultivation in Kerala have been identified. Alternative local substrates for cultivation of oyster mushrooms have been identified and their processing technology standardized. Effective nutritional supplements for increased yield, method for speedy induction of sporocarp, after care method for the once harvested beds for further flushes, effective method for cultivation etc. have been worked out for large scale cultivation of Pleurotus spp. In Kerala. Commonly available low cost substrates in spawn production have been identified and their technologies standardized. Influence of light on spawn growth, influence of storing environment on growth and shelf life of spawn etc. have been studied. Technology for preparation of an instant liquid spawn developed and also a modified method for speedy and low cost production of spawn using polypropylene cover as the container has been standardized. The effect of coconut milk in blending culture media for enhanced growth of various Pleurotus spp. and the effect of coconut milk in their biomass production have been proved. In the strain improvement programme, a substrate influenced mutant of Pleurotus sajor-caju for better yield, a resistant/tolerant strain against the most destructive weed mould Trichoderma viride and an interstock hybrid with desirable traits have been developed. Type of pests and their control etc. have been worked out. The effect of chemical pasteurization of the substrates on checking the weed mould infestation during spawn run and the use of lime powder for spot treatment of beds in the management of T. viride have been proved. Post harvest technology for preservation of both raw and dehydrated forms of mushrooms has been standardized. The native strains of other tropical mushrooms locally collected namely V. esculenta and T. lobayense have been identified based on the detailed description of the same. The performance of the native strain, V. esculenta under cultivation has been compared with that of the standard species, V. volvacea and a technique for cultivation of T. lobayense has been standardized for first time in this part of the country.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Effect of selected medicinal plant extracts on the incidence of pumkin mosaic
    (Department of Plant Pathology, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 1994) Vimi, Louis; KAU; Balakrishnan, S
    The inhibitory effect of certain medicinal plant extracts on the incidence of pumpkin mosaic was studied using ten day old pumpkin seedlings as the test host. Preliminary screening of 30 species of medicinal plant extracts against pumpkin mosaic virus (PMV) revealed that eight plants possessed 80 or more percent inhibition of the infection. Of these five plants, namely, Basella alba, Glycyrrhiza glabra, Phyllanthus fraternus, Plumbago rosea and Thespesia populnea which showed very high virus inhibitory property were subjected to detailed studies. When the selected medicinal plant extracts were tested at five and ten per cent concentrations, two plants, B. alba and P. rosea showed more inhibition at lower concentration. P. fraternus and T. populnea were more effective at higher concentration. G. glabra showed equal effectiveness at both the concentrations. When the extracts of medicinal plants were mixed with partially purified virus preparation, B. alba, G. glabra and T. populnea showed more inhibition, than when used crude virus preparation. All the five medicinal plant extracts showed more inhibition by pre-inoculation application, than by post inoculation application. Pre – inoculation application of medicinal plant extracts at different time intervals revealed that inhibitory properties of B. alba and G. glabra decreased gradually, whereas, that of P. fraternus and T. populnea reached a maximum after a time gap. Inhibitory property of P. rosea did not show any gradual trend. Among the five selected medicinal plants, B. alba possessed a high degree of systemic effect (88.09%) followed by G. glabra (78.57%). The extracts of P. fraternus and P. rosea showed maximum reduction in percentage transmission of PMV by the vector (Aphis gossypii) when applied before acquisition and before inoculation feeding respectively. All the medicinal plant extracts showed more inhibition of infection in the case of mechanical transmission than in vector transmission. Spread of pumpkin mosaic in the field is not random and the data revealed that it is more or less concentrated around the initially infected plants.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Management of bacterial wilt of ginger incited by Pseudomonas solanacearum (Smith) smith
    (Department of Plant Pathology, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 1994) Alli Rani, G; KAU; James Mathew
    Bacterial wilt is one of the most destructive disease of ginger in Kerala. The pathogen was isolated from wilted ginger plant and its pathogenicity established. The isolate of bacterium was characterized and identified as Pseudomonas solanacearum (Smith) Smith based on its morphological, cultural, biochemical and physiological characters coupled with its pathogenicity. Invitro inhibitory effect of antibiotics, fungicides, botanicals and others against p. solanacearum was tested. Ambistryn- S and chloromycetin 1000 ppm exhibited maximum inhibition of bacterium. Of the two fungicides tested Bordeaux mixture one per cent gave maximum inhibition of the bacterium. Among the botanicals and others tested, water extract of ocimum spp. And garlic at 50 g/1 exhibited maximum inhibition of the bacterium. Field experiment on the management of bacterial wilt of ginger revealed that none of the treatments gave an absolute control of the disease. However, plots treated with Ambistryn- S and Bordeaux mixture had minimum wilt incidence than the other treatments. The changes in the total rhizosphere microflora and the pathogen P. solanacearum as a result of treatments in field codition were assessed. Ambistryn- S, Bordeaux mixture and chloromycetin had effectively reduced the population of P. solanacearum. Ambistryn- S, Bordeaux mixture, Streptocycline and chloromycetin had reduced the bacterial population. The maximum reduction of fungal population was observed in Bordeaux mixture and Ambistryn-S treated plots. Actinomycetes population was minimum in plots treated with garlic. Results of the study on the in vitro effect of treatments on the soil microflora and the pathogen P. solanacearum revealed that Ambistryn-S and Bordeaux mixture had effectively reduced the P. solanacearum. There was a maximum reduction of bacterial population was recorded in soil treated with Ambistryn-S, Streptocycline, Bordeaux mixture, Chloromycetin and Terramycin. The soil treated with Bordeaux mixture and calixin had minimum count of fungal population. Ambistryn-S, streptocycline and water extract of Ocimum spp. Treated soils had minimum count of actinomycetes. The result of the pot culture study on the management of bacterial wilt of ginger revealed that plants treated with Bordeaux mixture, Ambistryn-S, Terramycin and Chloromycetin had minimum wilt incidence. Correlation studies were made between environmental factors and wilt incidence. There was a positive correlation between maximum air and soil temperature and wilt incidence. The colonization of VA-mycorrhiza was greater in roots of healthy plants than the roots of infected plants. The incidence of phyllosticta leaf spot was minimum in plants treated with Bordeaux mixture, Ambistryn-S, Calixin and Chloromycetin both in pot culture and field experiments. The effect of treatments on plant height, number of tillers and yield were also recorded. Bordeaux mixture and Ambistryn-S treated plants had maximum plant height, more number of tillers and better yield than the other treatments. Thus the present study revealed that one per cent Bordeaux mixture can be used as a prophylactic measure to reduce the incidence of bacterial wilt of ginger. The use of water extracts of botanicals for the control of the disease needs further detailed investigations.