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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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20191
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Subject: Vegetable Science × Author: Aiswarya, V Dev K P × Author: KAU × End date: 2019 × Start date: 2011 × Thesis Type: M.Sc ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Standardisation of grafting in bitter gourd (Momordica charanita L.)
    (Department of Vegetable Science, College of Agriculture,Vellayani, 2019) Aiswarya, V Dev K P; KAU; Rafeekher, M
    The study entitled "Standardisation of grafting in bitter gourd{Momordica charantia L.)" was conducted in the Department of Vegetable Science, College of Agriculture, Vellayani during 2017-2019 in order to identify suitable rootstocks, standardise grafting techniques and evaluate growth and performance of grafts in bitter gourd. The study was conducted in two parts. Standardisation of grafting in bitter gourd using four rootstocks was done in part I and evaluation ofthe grafted bitter gourd for growth, yield and quality was attempted in part II. Bitter gourd scion (Preetlii) and four rootstocks (sponge gourd, pumpkin, bottle gourd and bittCT gourd) were raised in protrays. Separate experiments for each roolstock, were laid out in CRD, replicated thrice for standardization of grafting. Growth regulators (alar and cycocel) at two different concentrations /.e.,10 mgL"' and 50 mgL*' were sprayed at second leaf stage forreducing seedling height of rootstocks and then grafted using three methods (hole insertion grafting, one cotyledon grafting and cleft grafting). Alar @10 mg L*' reduced plant height(7.50 cm) and enhanced diameter (2.97 mm) in sponge gourd rootstock. Faster graft union(4.11 days) was recorded forfiole insertion grafting withhighest success percentage (77.07 %). Spraying of cycocel @ 50 mg L ' resulted in the highest success percentage of 56.44 per cent. Combination of cycocel @ 50 mg L"'+ hole insertion grafting recorded highest success percentage of 86.67 when bitter gourd grafted onto sponge gourd. Though cycocel @ 10 mgL"'and 50 mgL"'improved the diameter of pumpkin rootstock, alar@ 10 mgL"' and 50 mgL'reduced the height ofthe rootstock. New leaf emerged faster (3.51 days) in hole insertion grafting but one cotyledon grafting recorded the highest success percentage (68.60 %). Cleft grafting not only took more days for graft union but also recorded least success percentage (11.20 %). Though alar @ 10 mgL*^ alar@50 mg L'* and cycocel @10 mg L'' were equally effective to improve success percentage but the combination of alar @ 10 mg L'^ + one cotyledon grafting recorded the highest success percentage of 81 per centwhen bitter gourd was grafted onto pumpkin. Application of alar @ 10 mg L'onto bottle gourd rootstock improved diameter (4.65 mm) and @ 50 mg L"'reduced height (12.61 cm). Among the grafting methods, graft united faster (3.69 days) in hole insertion method, while success percentage was tlie highest (86.40 %)for one cotyledon grafting. Growth regulator had no role in days taken for graft union and could not improve success percentage over distilled water. Application of alar @ lOmg L*' cycocel @ 10 mg L*' and 50 mg L*' were equally effective in reducing the height of bitter gourd rootstock. Alar @ 50 mg L"\ cycocel @ 10 mg L'and @ 50 mg L ' improved the diameter of the rootstock. Among grafting methods, hole insertion grafting exhibited faster union (3.57 days) with highest percentage of success (68.13 %). Cycocel @ 50 mg L"' recorded the highest percentage success among growth regulators. Based on the results of part I, grafts produced by cycocel @ 50 mgL*^ + hole insertion grafting in sponge gourd, alar @ 10 mgL'^ + one cotyledon grafting in pumpkin, distilled water (control) + one cotyledon grafting in bottle gourd and cycocel @ 50 mg L*^ + hole insertion grafting in bittergourd were selected and planted in main field along witli non grafted control in randomised block design replicated four times for evaluating growth, yield and quality of grafted bitter gourd. All grafts exhibited lower establishment over non grafted control.Bitter gourd grafted onsponge gourd andbottle gourd rootstocks as well asnon grafted control had similar vine length. Inlemodal length was more in non grafted control (6.00 cm). More branches were produced when bitter gourd and sponge gourd were used as rootstocks.Pumpkin rootstock produced longer primary root, higher root volume and root weight. Early appearance of first male and female flowers at lower nodes was also recorded in bitter gourd grafted on pumpkin rootstock. Though grafting did not significantly influence number of male flowers, the number of female flowers was higher in non grafted control and bitter gourd grafted on sponge gourd. Non grafted control, bitter gourd grafted on sponge gourd, bottle gourd and bitter gourd rootstock exhibited on par sex ratio.Non grafted control, bitter gourd grafted on pumpkin and bitter gourd recorded early harvest but bitter gourd grafted on sponge gourd and bottle gourd rootstock extended duration of the crop. Non grafted control and bitter gourd grafted on sponge gourd rootstock recorded more fruits per plant and yield per plant. Non grafted control, bitter gourd grafted onto bitter gourd and bitter gourd grafted on to sponge gourdexhibited on par fmit length. Bitter gourd grafted onto pumpkin, bitter gourd grafted onto sponge gourd, non grafted control and bitter gourd grafted onto bitter gourd had similar flesh thickness. Bottle gourd and bitter gourd rootstock enhanced fruit weight (181.50 g). Grafts did not differ for fruit girth, vitamin C content and organoleptic properties. Nongrafted control recorded highest B:C ratio (1.67)followed by sponge gourd (1.50). In conclusion, grafts of bitter gourd variety Treethi' can be produced with highest success percentage by cycocel @ 50 mgL'' + hole insertion graftingusing sponge gourd as rootstock, alar @ 10 mgL"' + one cotyledon grafting using pumpkin as rootstock, one cotyledon grafting without growth regulator using bottle gourd as rootstock. Among these grafts, sponge gourd as rootstock produced longest vine, more branches, longer crop duration, on par female flowers, sex ratio, fruits per plant and yield per plant compared to control. However, cultivation of non grafted plants recorded higher B:C ratio which necessitate further evaluation of biotic and abiotic tolerance of grafts for benefitting farming community.