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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: Krishnapriya, P J × Start date: 2018 × Thesis Type: Ph.D ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Strain improvement of oyster mushrooms- pleurotus cystidiosus O.K. Mill and pleurotus opuntiae (Durieu and LEV.) SACC.
    (Department of Plant Pathology, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 2018) Krishnapriya, P J; KAU; Geetha, D
    The present study entitled “Strain improvement of oyster mushrooms: Pleurotus cystidiosus O.K.Mill and Pleurotus opuntiae (Durieu and Lev.) Sacc.” was carried out in College of Agriculture, Vellayani during 2015-2018, with the objective to standardize the techniques for production of oyster mushrooms: P. cystidiosus and P. opuntiae; and to study their morphological, physiological and cultural characteristics as well as nutritional and organoleptic qualities; and to undertake genetic improvement by protoplast fusion. The mushrooms were collected from two locations of Thiruvananthapuram and three fast growing isolates of Pleurotus spp. viz., PC2 (Vellayani), PNC1 (Chirayinkeezhu) and PO1 (Vellayani) were selected for the study. These isolates were identified as P. cystidiosus subsp. abalonus, P. cystidiosus and P. opuntiae using internal transcribed spacer (ITS) primers and subsequent sequencing; and registered at Genbank database with accession numbers KY214254, KY887023 and KY214255 respectively. The fast growing isolates of P. cystidiosus (coremial), P. cystidiosus (non-coremial) and P. opuntiae recorded maximum growth on PDPA amended with one per cent yeast under dark condition. The optimum temperatures for the growth were 30 0C, 25 to 30 0C and 25 0C respectively whereas, the optimum pH were 8, 8 and 7 to 8 respectively. Studies with different substrates and amendments for spawn production revealed that sorghum with one per cent yeast was the best for P. cystidiosus (coremial) and P. opuntiae whereas, paddy grains with one per cent yeast for P. cystidiosus (non-coremial). Experiments with different substrates and amendments for mushroom production revealed that rubber wood sawdust sprayed with 2.5 per cent of 1 M potassium dihydrogen phosphate recorded the maximum BE for P. cystidiosus (non-coremial) (192.76 per cent). P. opuntiae recorded the maximum BE in rubber wood sawdust amended either with 4 per cent neem cake (91.38 per cent) or wheat bran (91.37 per cent). Major insect pests observed in the beds of Pleurotus spp. were phorid flies, spring tails, black ants and staphylinid beetles. The competitor moulds observed were different species of Coprinus, Aspergillus, Penicillium and Trichoderma. Sporocarps soaked in one per cent CA for 15 minutes followed by mechanical drying and powdering was the best post harvest treatment for both P. cystidiosus (non-coremial) and P. opuntiae. Mycelium of P. cystidiosus (coremial) showed black coremial structures, representing its asexual stage (Antromycopsis broussonetiae Pat. & Trab.). The coremia comprised of elliptical (16.31 µm x 7.48 µm) and round conidia (8.06 to 8.49 µm). The black colour of coremia was due to melanin which was extracted (255.56 mg l-1) and characterized. The performance of long duration P. cystidiosus (non-coremial) and short duration P. opuntiae was compared with two ruling mushrooms of Kerala viz., long duration P. florida (Mont.) Singer and short duration P. eous (Berk.) Sacc. The study revealed that P. cystidiosus (non-coremial) and P. opuntiae showed higher BE compared to P. florida and P. eous, respectively. P. cystidiosus (non-coremial) recorded maximum moisture (94.05 per cent), starch (200.55 mg g-1), protein (30.2 mg g-1), fat (4.25 per cent), antioxidants (485.45 μg equivalent gram of ascorbic acid-1), beta-carotene (25.69 µg 100 mg-1), polyphenols (7.55 mg g-1) and energy (359.45 Kcal) compared to other Pleurotus spp. Sensory evaluation of mushroom products made from the species of Pleurotus was done and masala curry prepared from P. cystidiosus (non-coremial) scored the maximum value for overall acceptability. Shelf life of P. cystidiosus (non-coremial) was higher (5 days) compared to P. opuntiae, P. florida and P. eous (3 days each) in perforated poly propylene covers stored under refrigeration. Vanillin (0.05 per cent) and carbendazim (1 mM) were selected as dual biochemical markers for the PEG mediated protoplast fusion. Three days old P. cystidiosus (non-coremial) and four days old P. opuntiae recorded the maximum protoplast yield at five and four hours after incubation respectively with 0.6 M KCl and 30 mg ml-1 of enzyme consortium. Eight fusant lines with varied mycelial characters were obtained. Among fusants, F6 and F8 did not segregate in the second generation whereas, F4 segregated. F6 and F8 recorded higher BE of 168.05 and 99.95 per cent respectively compared to the parental lines and other fusants. Sporocarp of F6 and F8 was morphologically similar to P. cystidiosus (non-coremial) and P. opuntiae respectively; and F8 also exhibited low temperature adaptability. The present investigation indicated the exploitability of two promising isolates viz. P. opuntiae for tropical areas and P. cystidiosus (non-coremial) for cooler regions of Kerala using locally available materials and the standardized cultivation practices. The present study also standardized the protoplast fusion technique between P. cystidiosus (non-coremial) and P. opuntiae; and two fusant lines (F6 and F8) recorded higher BE which can be used for future breeding programmes.