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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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Subject: Spices, Plantation and Medicinal and Aromatic Plants × Author: Anargha, T × Author: KAU × Start date: 1994 ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Variability in ginger(Zingiber officinale rosc) for yield and resistance to rbizome rot
    (Department of Plantation Crops and Spices, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 2019) Anargha, T; KAU; Sreekala, G S
    A field experiment entitled “Variability in ginger (Zingiber officinale Rosc.) for yield and resistance to rhizome rot” was conducted at Department of Plantation Crops and Spices, College of Agriculture, Vellayani during 2017-2019 with the objective to evaluate ginger genotypes for yield and resistance/tolerance to rhizome rot. The study on variability in ginger (Zingiber officinale Rosc.) for yield and resistance to rhizome rot was conducted as two experiments (i) Collection of ginger genotypes and analysis for genetic variability and yield (ii) Screening of ginger genotypes against rhizome rot under natural condition. Twenty genotypes of ginger collected from different regions of Kerala and a control variety Aswathy were planted in Instructional Farm, College of Agriculture, Vellayani in a randomized block design with four replications. Qualitative characterization of the genotypes was carried out based on DUS guidelines. Plant growth habit of collected genotypes included erect and semi-erect types. All the genotypes were short type (height<100cm) with short leaf length (<25cm), medium leaf width (2.5-3.5cm) having few (<10) and medium (10-15) shoots. The intensity of shoot colour noticed was green and dark green while that of leaf were light green, green and dark green. The leaf petiole length was short (<0.5cm) for all the genotypes except T17 (Kalliyur). Spikes were formed only in three genotypes of which two had crimson bract tip and other had yellowish white tip. Rhizome thickness was thin (<2cm) for all genotypes except T11 (Kazhakootam) with medium (2-3cm) thickness with straight, curved and zigzagged rhizome shape. Greyish yellow rhizome skin colour was predominant while the flesh colour were light yellowish grey, greyish yellow and yellow. The collected genotypes sprouted from 7 days after planting and continued upto 20 days after planting. Plant height was significantly superior for T12 (Irinjalakkuda) while the number of tillers and dry matter content was significantly higher for T11 (Kazhakootam) at 7 MAP. Leaf area for T8 (Karunagapally) was 48.2 cm2 which was significantly higher and on par with T12 (Irinjalakkuda) which had 47.96 cm2 at 7 MAP. Rhizome spread (13.91 cm), rhizome thickness (2.02 cm) fresh weight per plant (0.150 kg plant-1) fresh weight per plot (2.33kg plot-1), dry weight per plant (0.031kg plant-1), dry weight per plot (0.475kg plot-1) and harvest index (0.60) were significantly higher for T11 (Kazhakootam). Dry recovery, starch content and oleoresin were significantly superior for T12 (Irinjalakkuda). Crude fibre content of T16 (Pozhuthana) was significantly higher (5.75 %) while the essential oil content (2.42 %) was significantly higher inT20 (Thalavur). Significant variation existed among the genotypes for characters such as plant height, number of tillers, leaf area, rhizome spread, rhizome thickness and oleoresin. Phenotypic coefficient of variation (PCV) was a little bit higher than the genotypic coefficient of variation (GCV) indicating that environment played very little role in the expression of the characters. Crude fibre registered highest GCV (44.36) and PCV (44.84). High heritability coupled with high genetic advance was observed for rhizome yield, oleoresin, phenol, crude fibre, rhizome thickness and essential oil. Yield per plant was found to be significantly and positively correlated with plant height, number of tillers, leaf area, rhizome spread, rhizome thickness and oleoresin content. Path analysis revealed that leaf area, number of tillers and rhizome spread had maximum positive direct effect on yield per plant. Ginger genotypes screened against rhizome rot using cultures of Pythium aphanidermatum under natural condition revealed increased phenol, polyphenyl oxidase, lipoxygenase and phenylalanine ammonia lyase activity in all genotypes after inoculation. Peroxidase activity was higher for genotypes of lower disease severity while it decreased for genotypes with higher disease severity. The percentage disease incidence and disease severity were significantly lower for T1 (Mananthavady) and was on par with T12 (Irinjalakkuda). Soil temperature ranged from 25.3ºC to 29.7ºC while maximum temperature varied from 29.2ºC to 32.4ºC, minimum temperature from 24.9ºC to 26ºC, relative humidity from 93% to 98 % and rainfall from 2.5cm to 28.3cm during the period of symptom development. The ginger genotypes evaluated revealed higher yield for T11 (Kazhakootam) followed by T15 (Nedumkandam) which produced 65.27 and 20.87 percent yield increase over control. Quality parameters such as starch, oleoresin and dry recovery was significantly superior for T12 (Irinjalakkuda) suggesting the suitability of the genotype for dry ginger. Screening the ginger genotypes for rhizome rot under natural condition, revealed less disease severity in T1 (Mananthavady) and T12 (Irinjalakkuda). The genotype T11 (Kazhakootam) developed from the present study can thus be used for further evaluation for green ginger production, and T12 (Irinjalakkuda) for dry ginger production and resistance/tolerance to rhizome rot.