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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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Author: Adithya, V × Start date: 2018 × Type: Thesis ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Molecular characterization of pathogens associated with post harvest diseases in elephant foot yam
    (Department of Plant Biotechnology, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 2018) Adithya, V; KAU; Veena, S S
    Elephant foot yam (Amorphophallus paeoniifolius (Dennst.) Nicolson) is an important tuber crop popular as a food security crop and as a remunerative cash crop. A. paeoniifolius is susceptible to number of diseases and the incidence of post-harvest rot in EFY is very high at all stages from harvesting to consumption, leading to reduction in the quality and quantity of stored planting material. The recommended management practices are unable to reduce the disease incidence satisfactorily and suggest the involvement of more pathogens to the loss. The present study, “Molecular characterization of pathogens associated with post-harvest diseases in elephant foot yam” was conducted at the Division of Crop Protection, ICAR- Central Tuber Crops Research Institute (CTCRI), Sreekariyam, Thiruvananthapuram during October 2017 – August 2018 with an aim to identify the pathogens responsible for post-harvest diseases in elephant foot yam by establishing pathogenicity and molecular characterization. Sixty-two samples showing tuber rot symptoms were collected; detailed symptoms were studied and grouped the symptoms into nine categories. Ninetyone isolates were obtained from the samples and the duplicates of isolates were avoided by studying colony morphology, growth rate, and spore production etc of the isolates. Thirty-three isolates were selected for pathogenicity test and Koch’s postulates were proved with fifteen isolates. The morphology as well as symptom expression in host by both original and reisolated isolates were compared and found same. While studying the symptom, 86.6% of pathogens produced discoloration, 73.3% shown rotting and softening was induced by 33.3% pathogens. Morphological and cultural characteristics of the isolates were studied and the pathogens were tentatively identified. The précised identification of the pathogens was done by amplifying the rDNA ITS region using ITS1 and ITS 4 primers. The pathogens were identified as Athelia rolfsii, Lasiodiplodia 95 theobromae, Rhizopus oryzae, Cunninghamella elegans, Rhizoctonia solani, Ceratobasidium sp., Fusarium brachygibbosum, Fusarium solani, Fusarium oxysporum, Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, Aspergillus tamarii, Aspergillus nomius, Aspergillus niger and Penicillium citrinum. The study identified eight new organisms associated with tuber rot in elephant foot yam. Most of the newly identified organisms are reported to cause post-harvest rot in other tuber crops. Athelia rolfsii and Lasiodiplodia theobromae were found to cause maximum damage. Fusarium solani and Aspergillus niger caused more damage to the tubers during combined infection. Initial infection with Athelia rolfsii can accelerate the infectivity of Lasiodiplodia theobromae and Fusarium brachygibbosum. The present study helped in precisely identifying the pathogens responsible for postharvest diseases in elephant foot yam. This knowledge can be used for developing appropriate strategy to mitigate postharvest diseases in elephant foot yam.