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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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1995 - 199912000 - 20101
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Author: Beena, A K × Type: Thesis ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Detergent potential of enzymes of dairy microflora and their effect on the shelf life of milk products
    (Department of Dairy Science, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 2010) Beena, A K; KAU; Geevarghese, P I
    A study was conducted to assess the detergent potential of a spoilage protease enzyme obtained from the microflora of dairy plant environment. An attempt was also made to study the impact of selected enzyme producers on the shelf life of curd (dahi) and sterilised skim milk. A total of 71 bacterial isolates obtained from dairy environment were screened for their ability to produce spoilage enzymes like proteases lipases and lecithinases. Based on the spoilage potential, Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P12) isolated from pasteurised milk and Bacillus cereus (S4) isolated from sterilized skim milk were selected for further work. The influence of spoilage enzymes on selected physico-chemical characteristics of curd (dahi) and sterilized skim milk was evaluated by preparing the products from milk precultured with isolate P12 and S4. In general, proteolysis of milk was found to have an adverse effect on the quality of products. The stimulatory effect of proteolytic products of P12 and S4 on curd starters was evident from the higher values of acidity, firmness and syneresis in treated curd. The spoilage enzymes adversely affected the overall quality and shelf life of curd. In treated sterilised milk, tyrosine and NPN values were highly elevated. A linear correlation was found to exist between off-flavour and proteolysis. Curd and sterilised skim milk prepared from milk precultured with proteolytic organism were significantly different from that of control. The possibility of exploiting an alkaline protease from spoilage organism in dairy plant sanitation was also looked into. Environmental conditions for the production of alkaline protease by a psychrotrophic strain of Bacillus cereus (S4) was optimised in whey based medium. The protease used in this trial preferred an alkaline medium to remain stable. The enzyme was found to be stable over a wide temperature range of -10°C to 80°C and a pH range of 7.0 to 12.0. The metal ions Ca++, Mg++, Zn++ and Hg++ enhanced the enzyme activity. Lack of inhibition by Hg++ suggested lack of disulphide bonds in the active site of enzyme. Significant inhibition of activity by serine inhibitors indicated an essential serine residue in the active site of enzyme. The deleterious effect of EDTA on enzyme activity showed the supportive role of divalent cations. Marked residual activity on treatment with β-mercaptoethanol indicated the absence of cysteine residue for the enzyme. Enhancement of protease activity in the presence of surfactants and stability in the presence of H2O2 signified its potential to be used as detergent additive. Qualitative assessment of cleaning efficiency of inbuilt formulation substantiated the superiority of enzyme based formulations. Ammonium sulphate fractionation, dialysis and gel filtation using seralose 4B and Seralose 6B were effective in purifying the protease preparation by 141.31 fold. The purified protease was found to be a homogenous preparation of molecular weight of 50.5 kDa as determined by SDS PAGE.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Effect of lactose hydrolysed condensed whey and bifidobacterium bifidum in yogurt
    (Department of Dairy Science, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 1995) Beena, A K; KAU; Prasad, V
    An experiment was conducted to assess the possibilities of utilizing whey solids in the form of condensed whey or lactose hydrolysed condensed whey as a substitute for NDM. Their effect was also studied in conjunction with B. bifidum as a dietary adjunct. A detailed review of literature has been presented on the issues of lactose intolerance, hypercholesteraemia, beneficial effects of lactic acid bacteria in alleviating these conditions and also on acid tolerance and bile tolerance of cultures used in the present study. Methodology for the condensation of cheese whey, estimation of lactose in whey, B-galactosidase specific activity in the products, total cholesterol, HDL-cholesetrol and triglycerides in serum, assessment of acid tolerance and bile tolerance of lactic cultures used here have been detailed. The experiment comprised of preparation of yogurt and bifidus yogurt using three methods of fortification viz. skim milk powder, condensed whey and lactose hydrolysed condensed whey. The products prepared were then analysed for B-galacosidase specific activity. Hypocholesteraemic and growth promoting effects of these products were assessed in a biological study using rats. Hypocholesteraemic and growth promoting effects of whole milk was also assessed in the biological study. Acid tolerance and bile tolerance of lactic cultures used in this study were also determined, in vitro. From the above study, following conclusions were made. 1. B-galactosidase specific activity was noticed in substantial amount, in yogurt under different treatments. Bifidus yogurt showed a reduction in B-galactosidase specific activity, however, the activity was found to be enhanced when fortification was done with lactose hydrolysed condensed whey indicating that bifidus yogurt fortified with lactose hydrolysed condensed whey is superior. 2. No significant hypocholesteraemic effect was noticed in rats due to consumption of milk. All the rats fed with yogurt and bifidus yogurt except that given yogurt A1 showed a substantial reduction in serum LDL-cholesterol level and cardiac risk factor. However, bifidus yogurt supplemented with whey proteins showed maximum hypocholesteraemic effect and lowest cardiac risk factor showing the superiority of bifidus yogurt with whey proteins. 3. All rats given yogurt and bifidus yogurt showed a better daily weight gain when compared to the group fed whole milk along with feed and cholesterol. 4. Evaluation of acid tolerance of lactic cultures showed that, among the three cultures tested, B. bifidum exhibited maximum acid tolerance followed by S. salivarius ssp. Thermophilius. L. delbrueckii spp. Bulgaricus was found to be acid sensitive. 5. Bile tolerance study of pure and active cultures revealed that none of the tested cultures were completely inhibited by bile indicating theses cultures were bile tolerant to some extent.