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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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20201
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Subject: Post Harvest Technology × Author: Aparna Nath, S S × Start date: 2017 × Type: Thesis ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Postharvest quality management in banana CV nendran (Musa spp.)
    (Department of Post Harvest Technology, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 2020) Aparna Nath, S S; KAU; Geetha Lekshmi, P R
    The study entitled “Postharvest quality management in banana cv. Nendran (Musa spp.)” was conducted in the Department of Post Harvest Technology, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, Thiruvananthapuram during the year 2018-2020. The objective of the experiment was to standardize the postharvest management for delayed ripening and extended shelf life of banana cv. Nendran with minimum nutritional loss through postharvest handling practices. Good quality banana fruits (cv. Nendran) of uniform size and maturity, procured from progressive farmers of Farmer Producer Organization, Kalliyoor, Thiruvananthapuram were used for the study. The fruits were de-handed and sanitized with ozonation at 2ppm. The sanitized fruits were subjected to different postharvest treatments viz., Calcium chloride (CaCl2 4%), Gibberellic Acid (GA3 150 ppm), Oxalic Acid (OA 20 mM), Salicylic acid (SA 2 mM) as against fruits without any treatment as control. The treated fruits after the removal of excess moisture were stored in Corrugated Fibre Board boxes under room temperature conditions (30 ± 2 0C, RH 85- 90 %). Effectiveness of the treatments was analysed based on physiological, biochemical, physical and sensory parameters at an interval of 3 days till the end of shelf life. After 15 days of storage, Nendran banana fruits treated with Salicylic Acid (SA 2 mM) recorded the least Physiological Loss in Weight (PLW) of 13.43 % and respiration rate of 102.70 mL CO2 kg-1h-1 with a pulp percentage of 70.61 %, 29.39 % peel percentage and pulp to peel ratio of 2.40 with a fruit firmness of 10.13 N. The stored fruits also recorded an increase in the moisture content (61.27 %), Total Soluble Solids (24.60 o Brix), reducing sugar (17.34 %), total sugar (20.21 %), and acidity (0.45 %) with 10.19 % of starch content, 75.52%antioxidant activity and 9.30 mg 100g-1 ascorbic acid content after 15 days of storage. The fruits had acceptable sensory attributes viz., appearance, colour, flavor, taste, texture and overall acceptability and resulted in a shelf life of 15.67 days. 139 Nendran banana fruits treated with Gibberellic Acid (GA3 150 ppm) recorded a shelf life of 14.3 days next to SA (2 mM) with a respiration rate of 112.38 mL CO2 kg- 1h-1, Physiological Loss in Weight of 14.3 %, pulp percentage of 73.32 %, 26.68 % peel, pulp to peel ratio as 2.75, 17.80 % reducing sugar, 21.05 % total sugar, 74.31% antioxidant activity, and 8.59 mg 100g-1ascorbic acid content after 15 days of storage. The untreated Nendran banana fruits recorded a shelf life of 11.13 days with the highest rate of physiological, biochemical, and physical changes and the lowest mean scores for organoleptic qualities. Application of postharvest treatments significantly reduced the rate of physiological activities which contributed to the delay in ripening and extension of shelf life of Nendran banana. Nendran banana fruits harvested at uniform maturity, sanitized with ozonation (2 ppm) and subjected to postharvest treatment with salicylic acid (2 mM) for 10 minutes as dipping was standardized as the best postharvest treatment based on physiological, biochemical, physical and sensory analysis which recorded a shelf life of 15.67 days under room temperature storage as against 11.13 days in fruits without any postharvest treatments.