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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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1996 - 19972
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Author: James Mathew × Author: Sreekandan Nair, G × End date: 1999 × Start date: 1990 × Type: Article ×
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    ArticleItemOpen Access
    Screening of black pepper (Piper Nigrum L.) calliclones for phytophthora foot rot resistance / tolerance
    (Kerala Agricultural University, 1996) Shylaja, M R; Sreekandan Nair, G; James Mathew; KAU
    Calliclones of different black pepper cultivars viz., Kalluvally, Cheriakanyakkadan, Balankotta, Karimunda and Panniyur-1 were regenerated from calli, screened against toxic metabolite(s) of Phytophthora capsici. The regenerants derived from screened and unscreened calli were further tested for resistance / tolerance to P. capsici using different methods of screening viz., natural screening (keeping in infected field), screening by electrolyte leakage method and screening by artificial inoculation with culture disc of P. capsici. None of the regenerated calliclones was found to be completely resistant to the disease in natural screening. However, some of the regenerants derived from unscreened calli exhibited higher degree of tolerance to the disease revealing the possibility of exploiting somaclonal variation for Phytophthora foot rot disease screening in black pepper. The calliclones of Cheriakanyakkadan recorded greater degree of tolerance to the disease as compared to others.
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    In vitro production of toxic metabolite(s) by phytophthora capsici and partial purification of the metabolite(s)
    (Kerala Agricultural University, 1997) Shylaja, M R; Sreekandan Nair, G; Augustine, A; James Mathew; KAU
    Phytophthora capsici, the causal organism of Phytophthora foot rot disease in black pepper produces toxic metaholite(s) under in vitro conditions. Maximum accumulation of toxic metabolite(s) was observed in shake cultures of 15 days incubation in Ribeiro's medium. The symptoms induced by toxic metabolite(s) were quite typical to symptoms of natural and artificial infection by the pathogen. The toxic metabolite(s) accumulated in the in vitro culture was found to be heat stable aim non-specific. The toxic metabolite(s) could not be separated using organic solvent fractionation since it is present in the aqueous fraction of the culture filtrate. However, ion exchangers like Dowex 1 and Dowex 50 could be used for separating the metabolite(s) from the aqueous fraction.