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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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ThesisItem Open Access Exploitation of hypovirulence in Rhizoctonia solani kuhn for Management of sheath blight in rice(Department of Plant Pathology, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 2001) Ranjit, A; KAU; Girija, A KA study was conducted at Department of Plant Pathology, College of Agriculture, Vellayani to explore the variability in Rhizoctonia so/ani with a view to detect hypoviruient strains of the fungus, and evaluate the efficacy of these isolates in management of sheath blight disease of rice. Six hypovirulent isolates were selected after screerung 28 isolates obtained from different rice growing tracts of Kerala. Screening for hypovirulence was . based on cultural characters like mycelial growth rate and sclerotial production under ill vitro conditions, and pathogenicity tests through cut stalk assay. The hypovirulent isolates were non-sclerotial whereas the virulent isolate produced profuse sclerotia. The hypovirulent isolates produced tan mycelia appressed to the medium In Petri dishes. Antibiosis and hyperparasitism were absent in the interaction between the hypovirulent and virulent isolates in vitro. The character of hypovirulence could not be transmitted from hypovirulent to the virulent isolate. The hypovirulent isolates had no effect on the germination and seedling vigour of rice plants. They did not produce symptoms of sheath blight on susceptible variety. Two of the six hypovirulent isolates selected viz A 13 and GR23 which were binucleate and did not anastomose with the selected virulent isolates, offered the maximum protection to the rice plants from sheath blight. The plants treated with GR23 showed immune reaction to challenge inoculation with virulent isolate, showing no symptom production on challenge inoculation with virulent isolate. The protective effect was found to be higher than that of chemical and biological control treatments. The phenol oxidase activity in the plants treated with the hypovirulent isolates was found to be significantly higher than that of the plants treated with virulent isolate while the peroxidase activity was higher in the plants treated with virulent isolate. Among the different carrier materials tested for hypovirulent Rrsolani rice bran was found to be good for long term storage and coirpith was found to be a cheap indigenous material for its mass multiplication.ThesisItem Open Access Efficacy of selected biopesticides for the management of sheath blight of rice(Department of Plant Pathology, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 2001) Saifunneesa, T K; KAU; Rehumath Niza, T JStudies on 'Efficacy of selected biopesticides for the management of sheath blight of rice' was conducted at the College of Horticulture, Kerala Agricultural University, Vellanikkara during 2000-2001. The major objective was to evolve a safer and eco-friendly management practice against sheath blight disease of rice. In vitro evaluation revealed Trichoderma viride and 2B as the best fungal and bacterial antagonists respectively. Fungi such as Aspergillus niger, A. terreus, Penicillium chermesinum, Cunninghamella bertholletiae and bacteria such as 1 B (Clostridium sp.), 4B, 7B (Bacillus sp.), lOB (Sporosarcina sp.), 19B (Bacillus sp.), 28B and Pseudomonas jluorescens showed significant inhibition of Rhizoctonia solani. Initial screening of the botanicals resulted in the selection of Chromolaena odorata, Leucaena leucocephala and Ocimum sanctum as the effective botanicals in the inhibition of R. solani. All these inhibited the formation of sclerotia even at five per cent concentration. Of the neem based formulations, Nimbecidine at 0.75 per cent concentration showed the maximum inhibition of 70.79 per cent and inhibited the sclerotial formation even at 0.5 per cent level. Comparative evaluation of microbial antagonists, botanicals and neem , based formulations were carried out in in vivo for the selection of potential ones to field experiment. In the present study T viride was selected as the best antagonist followed by 12B(Clostridium sp.), 28B, unidentified ascomycetes (20F), Acrophialophora sp., C. bertholletiae, Trichoderma sp. in that order. Among the botanicals C. odorata was the best as corroborated by the CODEX value of 3.56 and was followed by O. sanctum with a CODEX Value of five on 30th day of inoculation. Out of the two neem based formulations, Nimbecidine (azadirachtin 0.03%EC) showed the maximum control on the disease up to 30th day of inoculation (CODEX=1.17-2.29). The botanicals namely C. odorata, O. sanctum and neem based formulation Nimbecidine were found as effective as carbendazim 0.1 per cent. The effect of bioagent T. viride, neem based formulation Nimbccidine as well as botanicals C. odorata, O. sanctum and fungicide carbendazim were tested under natural field condition. To select the most effective schedule, the different combinations of biopesticides for seed, soil and foliar applications were tried. Among the different biopesticides T. viride applied on seed, soil and foliage (T3) showed maximum disease control and was equally effective as carbendazim O.lper cent. Seed treatment cum soil application of T viride (T2) came next in reducing sheath blight infection and has given the highest benefit: cost ratio. Treatment T3 was also economically viable as carbendazim 0.1 per cent. An increase in the activity of phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL) was noticed with the foliar spray of T viride, Nimbecidine, C. odorata, and carbendazim.ThesisItem Open Access Molecular characterisation of Ralstonia solanacearum (Smith) Yabuuchi et al causing bacterial wilt in solanaceous vegetables(Department of Plant Pathology, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 2001) Deepa, James; KAU; Girija, DBacterial wilt incited by Ralstonia solanacearum is one of the most devastating diseases of solanaceous vegetable crops in Kerala. Crop losses due to the incidence of this disease may go upto 100 per cent. Existence of different strains, races and biovars has been responsible for breaking down of resistance of varieties evolved through breeding programmes. In view of wide variability, a study was undertaken to characterise the isolates of R. solanacearum collected from three different agro climatic zones ofKerala at molecular level. Nine isolates of R. solanacearum collected from three different locations from brinjal, chilli and tomato were used in the study. These were isolated, purified and maintained in sterile distilled water at room temperature. Inoculation techniques were standardised in brinjal, chilli and tomato plants for assessing the virulence and aggressiveness of the isolates. Virulence and aggressiveness of the isolates were studied on respective host plants and found them highly varying. Vellanikkara and Kumarakom isolates could cross inoculate, whereas Ambalavayal isolates did not. The isolates were characterised by various cultural, morphological and biochemical tests and the variability among them was studied. Biovars, III and IlIA and races, 1 and 3 were identified among the isolates. The isolates were resistant to ampicillin and sensitive to chloramphenicol. Plasmid DNA profile of the isolates were studied and no difference was found in the plasmid DNA profile of the nine isolates. Polymorphism among the isolates was studied using RAPD with ten decamer primers. RAPD profiles exhibited great diversity among biovars III and IlIA as well as among race 1 isolates. Race 3 isolates were less polymorphic with certain primers tested. OPF8 yielded a unique band specific to race 3 isolates. Dendrogram obtained from the pooled data of RAPD profiles also showed high genetic similarity between race 3 isolates. Dendrogram obtained from the pooled data of RAPD profiles also showed high genetic similarity between race 3 isolates. Restriction analysis could not characterise the isolates since no banding pattern was obtained with restricted DNA. No hybridization signal was detected after Southern hybridization in RFLP. Curing of plasmid DNA at high temperatures was found unsuccessful. Plasmid profiles of both mucoid and non-mucoid colonies were compared to assess the role of plasmid in EPS production and the plasmid could be observed in both types of colonies. In the latter, a reduction in size of the plasmid was noticed. Thus the study revealed that great diversity existed among strains of R. solanacearum at different locations of Kerala when molecular techniques, especially RAPD was used as a tool.ThesisItem Open Access Anatomical and biochemical bases of resistance in banana to yellow sigatoka leaf spot disease(Department of Plant Pathology, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 2001) Saira Banu, V K; KAU; Estelitta, SBanana is an important fruit crop of Kerala, which is commonly infected by yellow sigatoka leaf spot disease caused by Mycosphaerella musicola Leach. Investigations on anatomical and biochemical bases of resistance in . banana to yellow sigatoka leaf spot disease were carried out in the Dept of Plant Pathology and Biochemistry Laboratory of the College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara during 2000-2001. Severity of sigatoka disease was observed maximum 10 the peak monsoon month of July (cool moist period) followed by October (warm moist period) and April (warm dry period) and minimum in January (cool dry period). Maximum growth of M musicola was obtained in the medium potato glucose yeast extract agar (PGYEA) and poor sporulation in the medium banana dextrose agar (BnDA). Red pigmentation was observed in all media tried. The study revealed that the four different groups of banana differed significantly in the various anatomical and biochemical parameters. The resistant variety, Manoranjitham (AAA) was characterised by thickest cuticle and epidermis with inter mediate sized epidermal cells on the adaxial surface and denser pattern of epicuticular wax deposition on the abaxial surface of leaves. Thinner spongy and palisade tissues, maximum number of large and closely placed vascular bundles, thickest lower epidermis and decrease 10 number of stomata/unit area on the adaxial and abaxial surfaces of leaves. The highly susceptible variety, Grand Naine (AAA) showed thinner cuticle, thickened and large sized epidermal cells on the adaxial surface and faint pattern of epicuticular wax deposition on the abaxial surface of leaves. Less number of small and distantly placed vascular bundles, thicker spongy and palisade tissues and maximum number of stomata lunit area on the adaxial and abaxial surfaces of leaves. After pathogen infection the resistant variety Manoranjitham (AAA) showed partial disintegration of spongy mesophyll tissues and the highly susceptible variety Grand Naine (AAA) showed complete disintegration of chloroplast and mesophyll with necrotic vascular bundles. Stomata was found opened during day time and closed during night hours in both healthy and diseased leaves. In the biochemical parameters studied, the resistant variety, Manoranjitham (AAA) possessed higher quantities of total phenol, OD phenol, non reducing and total sugars, protein and peroxidase activity and intermediate values for proline and activity of polyphenol oxidase and lower quantity of reducing sugar. The highly susceptible variety, Grand Naine (AAA) was characterised by higher quantities of reducing sugar and intermediate values for total phenol, non reducing and total sugars and lower quantity of proline, protein, OD phenol and peroxidase and polyphenol oxidase enzyme activities. After pathogen infection, higher quantity of OD phenol, reducing sugar and activity of polyphenol oxidase enzyme was observed in the variety Manoranjitham (AAA) where the content of total phenol, non reducing and total sugars, proline, protein and activity of peroxidase enzyme decreased. The highly susceptible variety, Grand Naine (AAA) exhibited higher quantities of total phenol, reducing sugar, proline and higher activities of peroxidase and polyphenol oxidase enzymes and lower quantities of OD phenol, non reducing and total sugars and protein. The concentrated culture extracts of M musicola In seven different media gave different Rf values.ThesisItem Open Access Biochemical basis of resistance against blackeye cowpea mosaic virus in cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.)(Department of Plant Pathology, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 2001) Sindhu, A R; KAU; Umamaheswaran, KThe study was undertaken on the blackeye cowpea mosaic virus (BICMV) c ausmg a severe mosaic disease on cowpea (Vigna unguiculat a (L.) Walp). It aimed at locating the sources of heritable resistance and biochemical basis of disease resistance required for formulating effective management practices to check the spread of the disease as well as immunodetection. Among the 66 varieties screened, four were resistant, 29 moderately resistant, 27 moderately susceptible and six susceptible. Six cross combinations were tried and F I hybrid seeds were collected for further evaluation. Biochemical changes indicated a lower carbohydrate content In the resistant variety, compared to susceptible variety. Chlorophyll content decreased in susceptible variety due to virus infection. A lower level of phenol content was observed in resistant variety. Increase in protein content was observed in both susceptible and resistant varieties upon inoculation. The defence related enzymes peroxidase, polyphenol oxidase and phenylalanine ammonialyase were enhanced with virus inoculation in susceptible variety. SDS-PAGE analysis of proteins with samples extracted from plants at 15 DAI showed the presence of two novel virus induced proteins in diseased samples. Native polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis performed for polyphenol oxidase Isozyme revealed significant difference between the genotypes analysed. Five isoforms were found for Sharika and Malika and four for Co-6 and Pallichal local. There was no difference in amino acid pa.ttern in healthy and diseased plant samples in TLC, except for an increased expression of proline in healthy and tyrosine in diseased sample. Immunodetection could help identifying the viruses infecting cowpea as BICMV and CABMV using specific mono clonal antibodies.ThesisItem Open Access Effect of azospirillum and VA mycorrhiza on the growth of cocoa seedlings and incidence of seedling blight disease(Department of Plant Pathology, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 2001) Sunitha Anie, Cheriyan; KAU; Rajendran Pillai, M VAn experiment was conducted at the College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara on the "effect of Azospirillum and V A mycorrhiza on the growth of cocoa seedlings and incidence of seedling blight disease", during 1998-2000. The experiment was conducted using native isolates and commercial cultures of Azospirillum and V A mycorrhiza. The objective of the experiment was to find out whether there is any synergistic effect for the combined inoculation of Azospirillum and V A mycorrhiza in improving the growth and establishment of cocoa seedlings and to find out the efficacy of the inoculants in imparting resistance to seedling blight disease. The first experiment showed that there was a positive influence for both V A mycorrhiza and Azospirillum in improving the growth parameters. The height and number of leaves were maximum in native Azospirillum inoculated plants. Native mycorrhizal inoculation recorded maximum height of plant while the number of leaves was maximum in plants inoculated with commercial V A mycorrhiza inoculant. Combined inoculation of native Azospirillum and V A mycorrhiza ranked only second but it was on par with the best treatment combination. The native isolates of both the inoculants and their combination was found to increase the height to the maximum. Maximum number of leaves was noted in plants inoculated with commercial V A mycorrhiza. V A mycorrhizal inoculation did not influence the number of leaves. The results on the leaf length breadth ratio revealed that Azospirillum inoculation could influence the shape of leaves. It could be presumed that the linear nature of leaves is an indication on the efficiency of inoculated A zospirillum. Eventhough commercial Azospirillum was effective in improving the collar girth, the efficiency was slightly reduced when it was combined with native V A mycorrhiza. Commercial Azospirillum inoculation and the combination of native Azospirillum and native V A mycorrhiza were equally effective in improving the collar girth of cocoa seedlings to the maximum. The different treatments and their combinations affected the dry matter of the plant differently. VA mycorrhizal application was found to reduce the moisture content of the plant and make the plant more sturdy than succulent. This may be a factor that contributes to disease resistance of mycorrhizal plants. Due to the various treatments the moisture content of roots did not vary much. Native mycorrhiza was found better in improving nitrogen content of the plant compared to commercial mycorrhiza. But commercial Azospirillum was better than native Azospirillum in improving the nitrogen content of the plant. Absorption of phosphorus was maximum (0.16%) in native VA mycorrhizal inoculated plants. Both the mycorrhizal inoculants were found to increase the phosphorus content of the plants. Azospirillum inoculation did not affect the phosphorus content of the plants. Dual inoculation of commercial cultures of both the organisms was found equally effective with native Azospirillum application alone in potassium absorption. V AM infection percentage was also maximum in native V A mycorrhizal inoculated plants. Combined inoculation of native isolates of both the organisms influenced the mycorrhizal infection positively. Out of the ten parameters observed, the native Azospirillum isolate Al ranked first in nine of the parameters. Similarly native mycorrhizal isolate MI showed superiority in seven of the parameters tested proving the superiority of native isolates over commercial inoculants. In controlling the seedling blight disease of cocoa, it was found that dual inoculated plants showed a reduction in disease index by 0.77. In VA mycorrhiza treated plants reduction in disease index was 0.26. In Azospirillum treated plants there was a slight increase in disease index by 0.33. The disease reduction by dual inoculation was higher than that was achieved by the application of the fungicide potassium phosphonate. Among fungicides tested application of potassium phosphonate 0.3 per cent was better in controlling the seedling blight disease.ThesisItem Open Access Effect of kokkan disease caused by banana bract mosaic virus on the growth and yield of banana(Department of Plant Pathology, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 2001) Smitha Rose, Gasper; KAU; Suharban, MA study was conducted in the 'Instructional Farm, College of Agriculture, Vellayani during 2000-2001 on the" Effect of kokkan disease caused by banana bract mosaic virus on the growth and yield of banana. A survey conducted in two wards of Kalliyoor panchayat revealed that red banana plants were the most affected by the disease followed by nendran. The intensity of incidence of the disease was found to be comparable in both the wards. Studies on symptomatology of the disease was carried out using five varieties of banana viz., nendran, redbanana, robusta, palayankodan and rasakadali (njalipoovan). The characteristic symptoms of the disease were reddish / pinkish streaks on the pseudostem, bract mosaic, 'traveller's palm', necrotic streaks, leaf mosaic, streaks on the male flowers, streaks on the peduncle and leaf petiole, separation of the leaf sheaths from the pseudo stem, splitting of the leaf sheaths and small and deformed bunches. The disease significantly influenced the biometric characters. Plant height, girth, number ofleaves, leaf production rate and leaf area index were significantly reduced in the diseased plants. Delay in time taken for flowering, bunch maturity and time taken for harvest were observed. The number of suckers produced was also reduced in the diseased plants. Significant reduction in bunch yield, weight of fingers, length of fingers, girth of fingers, number of fingers, number of hands could also be noted. The proposed 0-4 scale was found to be highly effective in estimating the yield losses caused by the disease. Biochemical changes indicated a lower carbohydrate content in leaves of diseased plants and higher content in the bract. Phenol content was increased in the leaves of diseased plants and was decreased in the bract. Chlorophyll content decreased in the diseased plants due to virus infection. Peroxidase, polyphenol oxidase and phenylalanine ammonia-lyase activities increased in the diseased plants.ThesisItem Open Access Management of damping off and improvement of growth in chilli with native species of arbuscular mycorrhizae(Department of Plant Pathology, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 2001) Kavitha, K; KAU; Meenakumari, K SManagement of damping off, the most destructive disease of chilli both 111 nursery and main field incited by Pythium aphanidermatum (Edson) Fitz. using native AMF was attempted in the present investigation. Out of nine native AMF and one identified culture (Glomus mosseae) screened, the cultures Ms and M9 were found effective for suppression of damping off and growth improvement in chilli. Application of AMF inoculum in the nursery furrows along with chilli seeds was very effective for rapid and easy colonization of AMF. Likewise application of AMF inoculum at the rate of 850 g m-2 was selected as the economic dose for achieving satisfactory colonization of AMF. Azospirillum spp. were isolated from chilli roots collected from different locations of Thiruvananthapuram district. The in vitro nitrogen fixing capacity of the isolates ranged between 11.2 and 20 mg N s' of malate and IAA production between 21 and 55 ug mrl. Six best isolates which performed well under in vitro screening were selected an-d subjected to in vivo screening for growth, biomass production and yield in chilli. The isolates Az-l and Az-2 which performed well both under in vitro and in vivo screening were selected for further studies. Based on the characterization studies it was found that the isolate Az-l is related to Azospirillum lipoJerum and Az-2 is similar to Azospirillum brasilense. The isolate Az-l grew well at pH 5,6 and 7 whereas the isolate Az-2 grew well at pH 6 and 7. In the study on the interaction of native AMF and Azospirillum on damping off disease suppression, pre-inoculation of chilli seedlings with M9 culture alone recorded the least disease incidence. Eventhough dual inoculation of AMF and Azospirillum could suppress the damping off, Azospirillum had no direct effect on disease suppression. However dual inoculation of AMF and Azospirillum (M9A2PO) significantly increased the growth, biomass production and yield in chilli. The present study forms the first report of the synergistic effect of AMF and Azospirillum for the management of damping off and growth improvement in chilli. The present investigation emphasizes the importance of pre-inoculation of AMF in the chilli nursery as a prophylatic measure to prevent pathogen attack. The technology of combined inoculation of AMF and Azospirillum could be recommended for adoption by the vegetable farmers. Eventhough the present study was carried out in chilli, the same cultures could be recommended for all transplanted solanaceous vegetables after confirming the results through field trials.ThesisItem Open Access Characterization, host range and management of sweet potato feathery mottle virus(Kerala Agricultural University;Thiruvananthapuram, 2001) Jeeva, M.L.; KAU; Balakrishnan, S.