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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: Ajit, Kumar × Author: KAU × End date: 2015 × Type: Thesis × Thesis Type: M.Sc ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Endophytic and epiphytic microbial diversity in major tree spices and their potential for biocontrol of foliar pathogens
    (College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 2015) Ajit, Kumar; KAU; Koshy, Abraham
    The study on “Endophytic and epiphytic microbial diversity in major tree spices and their potential for biocontrol of foliar pathogens’’ was carried out during 2013-2015. The organisms causing various foliar diseases of tree spices were isolated from infected leaves and their pathogenicity established. Based on cultural and morphological characters, pathogens were identified upto the species level. Endophytes and epiphytes were isolated from leaf samples collected from different locations of Kerala. The population of endo and epiphytic microflora varied among the samples collected from different locations. Bacteria and fluorescent Pseudomonads population were more in number than fungi. A total of 118 endophytes and epiphytes were isolated. Among these, 52 isolates, consisting of 32 epi and 20 endophytes were found to exert antagonism towards pathogens of nutmeg, clove and cinnamon. On further in vitro evaluation, eight isolates including four each belonging to fungi and bacteria of epi and endophytic origin were selected as efficient antagonists. Mutual compatibility of the selected antagonists was studied. All the bacterial antagonists were compatible with each other. Among the four fungal antagonists, all except one combination (Nt ep f 1 X Nt ed f 2) were compatible. For studying the mechanism of antagonism of the selected isolates, they were subjected to various tests like production of ammonia, HCN, IAA, volatile and non volatile metabolites. The bacterial isolates Nt ed b 6, Cl ed b 2 and Cl ep b 6 produced more ammonia. All isolates were negative to HCN while others produced varying levels of IAA. The selected fungal isolates produced non-volatile metabolites inhibitory to the pathogens tested. Further, the compatibility of selected antagonists with 10 fungicides and four insecticides were studied. In general, the fungal antagonists were incompatible with fungicides like Bordeaux mixture, copper oxy chloride (Fytolan50 WP), carbendazim (12%) + mancozeb (64%) (Saaf), hexaconazole (Contaf 5 EC), propiconazole (Tilt 25 EC) and insecticides chlorpyriphos (Dursban 20 EC) and quinalphos (Ekalux 20 EC).Others showed varying levels of inhibition. The bacterial antagonists were compatible with Saaf, Tilt, mancozeb (Indofil M-45 75WP), cyamoxanil (8%) + mancozeb (64%) (Curzate M8) while they were incompatible with BM, copper hydroxide (Kocide 77 WP), Fytolan, Carbendazim (Bavistin 50WP), difenoconazole (Score 25 EC). All concentrations of Ekalux and lower concentration of dimethoate (Rogor 30 EC) were compatible with antagonists while the reverse was with that of chlorpyriphos and flubendiamide (Fame 480 SC). An attempt has been made to identify the selected epi and endophytic antagonists. The fungal antagonists were identified as Acremonium kilense (Nt ed f 2), Phytophthora cactorum (Nt ep f 1), Trichoderma viride (Cl ed f 2) and Trichoderma harzianum (Cn ep f 5). Three of the bacterial isolates (Nt ep b 2, Nt ed b 6, Cl ed b 2) were tentatively identified as Pseudomonas spp. while the other one (Cl ep b 6) as Bacillus sp.