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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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19932
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Subject: Plant Pathology × End date: 1993 × Start date: 1993 ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Leaf blight of banana and its control
    (Department of Plant Pathology, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 1993) Saj, KV; KAU; Sulochana, K K
    Survey conducted to study the fungal pathogens causing leaf blight disease in banana in the three agricultural subdivisions of Thiruvananthapuram district, yielded seven fungal pathogens viz., colletotrichum musae, Curvularia sp, Guignardia musae, khuskia oryzae, Nodulisporium gregarium, Pestalotiopsis versicolor and Phaeoseptoria sp. Among these, Curvularia sp, Khuskia oryzae and Nodulisporium gregarium are new reports. Morphological characters and pathogenicity tests of all the seven isolated cultures were studied and described. Detailed studies were conducted on five fungal pathogens viz., C. musae, G. musae, K. oryzae, N. gregarium and Phaeoseptoria sp., since severe infections could be noticed by these fungi. Studies conducted on the growth and sporulation of pathogens on different, media indicated that Richard’s medium was the best for C. musae and G. musae, potato dextrose medium for K. oryzae and Phaeoseptoria sp. In the case of N. gregarium, potato dextrose agar and Czapek (Dox) broth were found to be the best solid and liquid media respectively for its growth. Best growth of C. musae, N. gregarium and Phaeoseptoria sp was obtained with maltose as the carbon source, whereas G. musae and K. oryzae utilized maximum starch and sucrose for their growth. Maximum mycelial weight of C. musae was obtained with sodium nitrate as nitrogen source, G. musae and K. oryzae with potassium nitrate, N. gregarium with glutamine and Phaeoseptoria sp. with asparagine. Potato dextrose broth and Richard’s solution were found to be best media for the toxin production by C. musae K. oryzae , G. musae and Phaeoseptoria sp. produced maximum toxin in Richard’s solution and N. gregarium in potato dextrose broth. Host range studies of the pathogen (s) conducted indicated that they can infect a number of economically important plants like, clove, cocoa, colocasia, nutmeg and tapioca, but none of the pathogens could infect clerodendron. Dithane M-45, calixin and Bavistin were able to inhibit the growth of the leaf blighting pathogens under laboratory conditions and under field conditions Dithane M-45 (0.2%) was found to be the best. Varietal screening trials showed that variety Rasakadali was moderately resistant/tolerant among the four popular varieties screened, whereas Nendran was the most susceptible variety.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Control of collar rot and root-knot of cowpea with VA mycorrhizae
    (Department of Plant Pathology, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 1993) Deepti, N Varadan; KAU; Sivaprasad, P
    The objective of the present study was to evaluate VA mycorrhizae as a biocontrol agent against collar rot caused by Rhizoctonia solani and root-knot nematode Meloidogyneincognita in cowpea. Three different pot culture experiments were conducted. The first two were conducted to assess the effectiveness of VA mycorrhizal fungi viz. Glomus fasciculatum, G. mosseae and Acaulospora morroweae to suppress the pathogen R. solani and the nematode M. incognita. The results of the first two experiments revealed that G. fasciculatum is the best VA mycorrhizal fungus in terms of reducing the disease intensity (collar rot) and nematode population. Artificial inoculation with VA mycorrhizae significantly increased mycorrhizal colonization, nodulation, fresh weight, dry weight, plant height and leaf number of plants. A. morroweae was found to be a comparatively weaker symbiont in terms of increasing growth and suppressing the pathogens. Based on these results G. fasciculatum was used for further studies. Analysis of total phenols was done under conditions of interaction of G. fasciculatum, R. solani and M. incognita. Plants inoculated with VA mycorrhiza always showed a higher phenol content compared with the plants not inoculated with mycorrhiza. There was a significant positive correlation between mycorrhizal colonization and phenol content of plant tissue. Hence, the VA mycorrhizal mediated disease tolerance could be attributed to the enhanced phenol accumulation. The present investigation reveals that VA mycorrhizal technology has much potential as a biological tool for the management of root pathogens of cowpea. However, for practical application, the appropriate organism, for the host/environment should be chosen.