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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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20201
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Author: Aneetta, Francis × Author: KAU × Thesis Type: M.Sc ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Development and pharmacological evaluation of small molecular bioactives from marine algae associated heterotrophic bacteria
    (Department of Plant Biotechnology, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 2020) Aneetta, Francis; KAU; Kajal, Chakraborty
    Increased incidences of microbial resistance and the development of drug-resistant pathogens have triggered an urge amongst researchers focusing on the discovery of potential anti-infective compounds. The present study conducted at Marine Biotechnology Division, ICAR-CMFRI, Kochi, highlights the cultivable diversity and bioactivities of heterotrophic bacteria associated with the intertidal macroalgae of Southeast coast of India. Among the 40 bacteria isolated, the majority of the isolates represented Gamma-proteobacteria (62 %) and the following 38 % resided in the phyla Firmicutes. The isolates were then screened for antibacterial activities against a wide spectrum of pathogens including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus by spot on lawn assay. Further, one of the most active strains belonging to the phyla Firmicutes isolated from Rhodophyceae macroalga, Laurencia papillosa, with a zone of inhibition ≥ 35 mm, was selected for bioprospecting studies. It was characterized as Bacillus velezensis MBTDLP1 (MT122835), based on integrated phenotypic and genotypic analysis. Type-I pks gene (MT394492) of 700 bp also could be amplified from the candidate bacterium. The bacterium exhibited siderophore production in CAS agar screening. The bacteria showed significant susceptibility to the commercially available antibiotics thus neglecting the chances of pathogenicity. The organic extract of the candidate bacterium was also found to display ferrous ion chelating capacity (IC50 4.2 mg/mL). The heterotrophic bacterium B. velezensis MBTDLP1 exhibited promising anti-infective properties against test pathogens which included multidrug- resistant pathogen methicillin-resistant S.aureus (MIC of 15 μg/mL). The organic extract showed antibacterial activity (MIC 7.5-15 μg/mL), antioxidant property with IC50 values from 0.1-0.9 mg/mL against ABTS and DPPH radicals, anti-inflammatory activity with IC50 0.01 mg/mL against 5-LOX, anti-diabetic property with IC50 0.1-0.4 mg/mL in correspondence to α-amylase and α-glucosidase. The organic extract also showed significant anti-cancer activity against Human breast cancer cells with IC50 0.032 mg/mL and less cytotoxicity to normal cells. Significant antibacterial activity against drug resistant bacteria together with considerable pharmacological activities combined with the presence of genes coding for bioactive secondary metabolites revealed that this marine symbiotic bacterium could be used against the dilemma.