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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: Deepa, James × Author: KAU × End date: 2001 × Type: Thesis ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Molecular characterisation of Ralstonia solanacearum (Smith) Yabuuchi et al causing bacterial wilt in solanaceous vegetables
    (Department of Plant Pathology, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 2001) Deepa, James; KAU; Girija, D
    Bacterial wilt incited by Ralstonia solanacearum is one of the most devastating diseases of solanaceous vegetable crops in Kerala. Crop losses due to the incidence of this disease may go upto 100 per cent. Existence of different strains, races and biovars has been responsible for breaking down of resistance of varieties evolved through breeding programmes. In view of wide variability, a study was undertaken to characterise the isolates of R. solanacearum collected from three different agro climatic zones ofKerala at molecular level. Nine isolates of R. solanacearum collected from three different locations from brinjal, chilli and tomato were used in the study. These were isolated, purified and maintained in sterile distilled water at room temperature. Inoculation techniques were standardised in brinjal, chilli and tomato plants for assessing the virulence and aggressiveness of the isolates. Virulence and aggressiveness of the isolates were studied on respective host plants and found them highly varying. Vellanikkara and Kumarakom isolates could cross inoculate, whereas Ambalavayal isolates did not. The isolates were characterised by various cultural, morphological and biochemical tests and the variability among them was studied. Biovars, III and IlIA and races, 1 and 3 were identified among the isolates. The isolates were resistant to ampicillin and sensitive to chloramphenicol. Plasmid DNA profile of the isolates were studied and no difference was found in the plasmid DNA profile of the nine isolates. Polymorphism among the isolates was studied using RAPD with ten decamer primers. RAPD profiles exhibited great diversity among biovars III and IlIA as well as among race 1 isolates. Race 3 isolates were less polymorphic with certain primers tested. OPF8 yielded a unique band specific to race 3 isolates. Dendrogram obtained from the pooled data of RAPD profiles also showed high genetic similarity between race 3 isolates. Dendrogram obtained from the pooled data of RAPD profiles also showed high genetic similarity between race 3 isolates. Restriction analysis could not characterise the isolates since no banding pattern was obtained with restricted DNA. No hybridization signal was detected after Southern hybridization in RFLP. Curing of plasmid DNA at high temperatures was found unsuccessful. Plasmid profiles of both mucoid and non-mucoid colonies were compared to assess the role of plasmid in EPS production and the plasmid could be observed in both types of colonies. In the latter, a reduction in size of the plasmid was noticed. Thus the study revealed that great diversity existed among strains of R. solanacearum at different locations of Kerala when molecular techniques, especially RAPD was used as a tool.