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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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20181
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Subject: Seed Science and Technology × Author: Athmaja, S × Author: KAU × Type: Thesis ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Impact of pre-storage seed invigoration in ash gourd (benincasa hispida (thunb.) cogn.)
    (Department of Seed Science and Technology, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 2018) Athmaja, S; KAU; Rose Mary, Francies
    A study to elucidate the effect of seed invigoration on viability and quality of seeds in ash gourd variety KAU Local was conducted at College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, Thrissur, during 2016-2018. The impact of seed invigoration on seed viability and seed quality parameters under ambient (S1) and refrigerated storage (S2) was assessed following a completely randomized design with seven invigoration treatments (I1 to I7) and three replications. Seeds were separately invigorated using CaCl2 (50 m M) for 12h (I1), CaCl2 (50 mM) for 24h (I2), kinetin (10 ppm) for 12h (I3), kinetin (10 ppm) for 24h (I4), KH2PO4 (10-1 M) for 24h (I5), Pseudomonas fluorescens (1x106 cfu.ml-1) for 12h (I6). Untreated seeds (I7) served as control. Both treated and untreated seeds were dried to < 8 per cent moisture content and packed in polythene bags (700 gauge). The seed quality parameters were recorded immediately after treatment and subsequently at monthly intervals for a period of 10 months, while, germination of stored seeds was assessed up to 14 months after storage (MAS). At bimonthly intervals, quantification of lipid peroxidation, sugar and amino acids leached out from the seeds and the seed micro flora infection was also done. Seed quality during storage and seed longevity were found to be significantly influenced by storage environment, invigoration treatment and their interaction throughout the storage period. The results revealed that germination and other seed quality parameters such as germination index, coefficient of velocity of germination, energy of germination, vigour indices I and II, in both treated and untreated seeds decreased progressively over the storage period. However, there was an increase in mean time to germination, time taken for 50 per cent germination, allometric index, electrical conductivity of seed leachate, seed infection per cent, leachate of sugar, amino acid and lipid peroxidation, towards the end of storage period. Germination of seeds stored under the refrigerated storage was lower than that under ambient storage in the initial storage period (upto 3 MAS). Henceforth, refrigerated seeds exhibited significant superior germination than that under ambient storage till the end of storage period (14 MAS). Germination of seeds under refrigeration was retained above 60 per cent (the minimum seed certification standards required for ash gourd) for 13 MAS compared to 5 MAS in ambient stored seeds. The study thus revealed that irrespective of seed invigoration treatments, to prolong seed longevity and maintain seed quality, storing seeds under refrigeration is advantageous over ambient storage. Irrespective of storage environment, priming induced early germination. The seed quality parameters of the invigorated seeds before storage were found to be superior to untreated seeds. The invigorated seeds had also exhibited a germination per cent above 80 at 1 MAS, while, the germination in untreated control (I7) during the corresponding period was below the MSCS. Seeds invigoration with calcium chloride for 12h (I1) and 24h (I2) recorded significantly high germination and other seed quality parameters during the storage period of ten months. Owing to the significant superiority of seeds invigorated with I1 (CaCl2 50mM 12h) and I2 (CaCl2 50mM 24h) with respect to germination in the initial period of storage (up to 4 MAS), superior seed qualities during storage as well as retention of germination above MSCS for 8 MAS, seed invigoration with CaCl2 50mM before storage can be advocated to help retain seed qualities and prolonging seed longevity during storage. The interaction between storage condition and invigoration treatment on germination and other seed indices pointed out that it was most advantageous to treat seeds with CaCl2 50mM for 12h (I1) before storing under ambient conditions. If provision for refrigerated storage is available, bio-priming with Pf 1x10-6 cfu.ml-1 for 12h (S2I6) or priming with CaCl2 50mM for 24h (I2), kinetin 10 ppm for 12h (I3) or kinetin 10 ppm for 24h (I4) or KH2PO4 10-1 M for 24h (I5) would be most advantageous. Analysis of the impact of pre-storage seed invigoration treatment on seed longevity subsequent to retrieval of seeds from refrigerated storage revealed that, irrespective of the storage period under refrigeration, the seeds were found to retain viability above MSCS for a minimum period of one month after retrieval from refrigerated storage. Viability retention of invigorated and untreated seeds during further periods of thawing was unpredictable. It was also evident that none of the treatments could help retain seed viability above MSCS for five months after retrieval from refrigeration. Results also revealed that seed invigoration with CaCl2 50mM 12h (I1) is advantageous, if one or two months of ambient storage after retrieval from cold storage is unavoidable. Hence, considering the impact of storage environment, invigoration treatment and their interaction on seed longevity and quality, as well as their influence on seed longevity during thawing, it can be summarised that seed invigoration with CaCl2 50mM for 12h (I1) or 24h (I2) would be beneficial.