Thumbnail Image

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.

Browse

20061
Reset filters
Subject: Plant Physiology × Author: KAU × Author: Lini Jacob × End date: 2010 × Start date: 2003 × Thesis Type: M.Sc ×
Reset filters

Search Results

Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
  • Thumbnail Image
    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Effect of abiotic stress factors on growth and secondary plant metabolism in Withania somnifera (L) Dunal
    (Department of Plant Physiology, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 2006) Lini Jacob; KAU; Manju, R V
    An experiment was conducted in the Department of Plant Physiology, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, to study the effect of abiotic stress factors on growth and secondary plant metabolism in Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal. The study analyzed the effect of abiotic stresses on growth, physiological, biochemical parameters and also withanolide content-the secondary metabolite of this medicinal plant. The abiotic stresses were three levels of light stress at 25%, 50% and 75% shade and three levels of water stress at 25%, 50%, and 75%FC along with control under optimum conditions. The treatments were imposed for a period of 30 days on 5 month old plants. Growth parameters such as plant height, Dry matter production, length of tap root and physiological parameters such as specific leaf area and relative water content were recorded highest in 75% shaded plants. Stomatal conductance was higher in 25% shade condition. Stomatal frequency and stomatal index were higher in control plants. The total chlorophyll, chlorophyll a and chlorophyll b increased under different field capacity levels and recorded the highest value under 25%FC. Stable isotopes discrimination studies showed significant variation among the treatments. 50% shade showed highest value in stable isotopes. Biochemical parameters total soluble protein, starch content, total phenols, ascorbic acid, free amino acids and reducing sugars were recorded from the leaves of the stress imposed plants. The total soluble protein and ascorbic acid were highest in control condition whereas starch recorded maximum under 25 per cent shade condition. Reducing sugar and phenol content showed highest under 75 per cent shade condition. Amino acid was highest under 25 per cent of field capacity. The secondary metabolite were recorded from the stress imposed, sun dried roots of the plants. The secondary metabolite withanolide was estimated spectophotometrically. The withanolide content was high in 75% shade (0.64%) condition after imposing the stress for a period of 30 days. The activity of free radical scavenging enzymes namely peroxidase and polyphenol oxidase were also estimated in the above treatments and was found to be highly active in 75% field capacity level. The water stress at different field capacity levels reduced the growth of the plants while the activities of free radical scavenging enzymes were shown an increase among the treatments. There was a positive relation with the antioxidant enzymes under 75% FC and withanolide content which was reported to have an antioxidant activity. The gene sequence analysis revealed that hmgr in Withania somnifera is having a size of 262 base pairs. Similarity search using BLAST showed that high percent similarity exist in hmgr across many crop plants and important medicinal plants. Expression levels of HMG Reductase were assessed by relative quantitative RT-PCR and there was a maximum expression of hmgr under 75% shade condition followed by 25% shade. The present investigation has shown that exposure to abiotic stress factors invariably leads to better accumulation of secondary metabolites. The differential expression of hmgr can be a crucial factor in deciding the levels of biosynthesis of secondary metabolites in Withania somnifera when exposed to abiotic stress situation. An understanding of this role of abiotic stress factors is of great importance in phytomedicinal enrichment programme.