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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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2006 - 200912020 - 20222
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Author: KAU × Author: Rahana, S N × End date: 2022 ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Gene action and gene expression analysis in yardlong bean(Vigna unguiculata ssp. sesquipedalis(L.) Verdcourt) for drought tolerance
    (Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 2022) Rahana, S N; KAU; Beena Thomas
    Yard long bean (Vigna unguiculata ssp. sesquipedalis (L.) Verdcourt) is a highly remunerative legume vegetable of Kerala. Due to climate change and erratic rainfall, in summer season the crop growth and pod production is heavily affected by moisture stress. Development of high yielding varieties of yard long bean with drought tolerance is essential for its sustainable production. In this context, the present study entitled "Gene action and gene expression analysis in yard long bean (Vigna unguiculata ssp. sesquipedalis (L.) Verdcourt) for drought tolerance" was carried out in the Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, with an objective to identify drought tolerant genotype from the available germplasm and to understand the nature and magnitude of gene action and gene expression involved in the inheritance of drought tolerance in yard long bean. The study comprised four experiments. First experiment dealt with the seedling stage evaluation of 100-yard-long bean genotypes for drought tolerance in field. The moisture stress was imposed by withholding irrigation and later irrigation was restored in order to ensure the survival of the tolerant lines. The results of the analysis showed significant variations among genotypes. Out of the 100 genotypes screened, 15 drought tolerant genotypes were identified based on their better performance in terms of high RLW, low PWP, more number of days for reaching critical stress level and high recovery percentage. The genotypes identified were G1 (Acc 5), G5 (Acc 1339), G6 (Adoor local), G14 (Anchal local II) G15 (Aranmula local), G24 (Elamadu local), G36 (Kattampally local), G42 (Kollam local), G45 (Kottarakara local), G46 (Kottayam local), G50 (Kulashegarapuram local), 051 (Kulathupuzha local), G60 (Muttathukonam local), G74 (Nilamcl local) and G89 (Pongamoodu local). The fifteen selected genotypes from the first experiment were evaluated for drought tolerance in the second experiment by imposing moisture stress at the reproductive stage. Based on the biometric and physiological evaluations, the top seven genotypes with high yield and drought tolerance A4 (Anchal local II), A5 (Aranmula local), A7 (Kattampally local). All (Kulashegarapuram local), A13 (Muttathukonam local), A14 (Nilamel local), and A15 (Pongamoodu local) were selected as parents for further hybridization in experiment in. In the third experiment, LxT crosses were performed by using seven selected tolerant genotypes as lines with three popular yard long bean varieties as testers to generate twenty one hybrids. The genetic analysis of hybrids and parents were evaluated based on eight morphological and eight physiological parameters. Mean performance, combming ability, gene action and heterosis were estimated. Based on the mean performance and gca effects, L4 (Kulashegarapuram local) and L3 (Kattampally local) are identified as outstanding general combiners and can be exploited as parents for drought tolerance breeding in yard long bean. Three superior crosses, Kattampally local x Vellayani Jyothika (L3 x T3), Nilamel local X Lola (L6 X T2) and Kulashegarapuram local x Lola (L4 x T2) were identified as promising combinations for drought tolerance and yield xmder water stress. In the final experiment quantitative real time PCR was conducted to analyze the gene expression of drought responsive genes in tolerant hybrids and parents. The elevated expression of DREBs and NCEDl genes in tolerant hybrids and genotypes in gene expression analysis reflects the increased drought tolerance ability of those genotypes. The gene expression analysis was in conformity with the field studies. All the hybrids mamfested significant amount of dominance variance for commercial exploitation. Existence of significant amoimt of dominance variance and non-additive gene action suggests that hybridization as the best strategy for improving the drought tolerance character in yard long bean. The identified genotypes can be used for isolation of purelines with enhanced drought tolerance and the transgressive segregants from the identified crosses can be used for the development of drought tolerant high yielding cultivars in the fixture. The work can be continued with the identified genotypes and crosses for the development of climate smart drought tolerant varieties of yard long bean.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    In vitro multiplication and molecular characterization of selected dendrobium hybrids
    (Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 2006) Rahana, S N; KAU; Lekha Rani, C
    Attempts were made to undertake initial culture establishment and molecular characterization of 40 selected Dendrobium hybrids developed in the Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics under a DBT funded orchid breeding project and to refine the protocol for rapid multiplication using in vitro leaf explants. The studies were carried out in the Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, College of Agriculture, Vellayani during 2004-2006. Initial culture establishment of the 40 selected Dendrobium hybrids were carried out using stem nodal explants obtained from keikis and were inoculated in the identified best media, viz., VW + KN 4 mg l-1 + IAA 4 mg l-1 + CW 200 ml l-1 (Sivamani, 2004). The nature of response of the stem nodal explant was found to be varied among the hybrids. The duration taken for the initiation of PLBs, shoot, leaf and root differed significantly among the hybrids. Once the PLBs or shoot buds had been differentiated, the cultures were transferred to the subculturing media for faster growth and development. Leaves and roots appeared from the shoot buds or PLBs after four to ten weeks in culture. The plantlets obtained were hardened and transferred to the greenhouse. Plantlets obtained through stem nodal cultures were more vigorous than that from in vitro leaf explant cultures. The regeneration potential of in vitro sourced leaf explants appeared to be an inherent trait of orchids which gets evoked under certain physico-chemical stimulus under in vitro condition. The in vitro sourced leaf explants can be profitably used for micropropagation. The main advantage of this technique is that in selected single plant hybrids where keiki production is low, once they are established in vitro, they can be further mass multiplied using the in vitro leaf as explant. The young leaf segments derived from in vitro established Dendrobium hybrids were used as explant. Swelling of cut leaf edges and callus initiation studies were conducted with two levels of CH (500 mg l-1 and 250 mg l-1) in half strength MS medium containing BAP 5 mg l-1 + KN 5 mg l-1 + CH 500 mg l-1 + CW 200 ml l-1 + AC l gl-1. Out of this CH at 500 mg l-1 was found to be the best for callus initiation and subsequent development of plantlet. The callus obtained from the inoculation medium, irrespective of the levels of CH used, were grouped together and cultured on regeneration media with two different levels of CH, viz., CH at 250 mg l-1 and no CH. Presence of CH at 250 mg l-1 was found to have significant effect on shooting response. The optimum medium combination for shoot initiation was found to be half strength MS medium with BAP 5 mg l-1 + KN 5 mg l-1 + CH 250 mg l-1 + CW 200 ml l-1 + AC 1 gl-1. Out of the different strengths of MS medium tried with in vitro leaf explant, half strength MS medium exhibited early establishment of plantlet and recorded minimum number of days for deflasking. Half strength MS with NAA 0.1 mg l-1 + BAP 0.5 mg l-1 + AC 1 gl-1 + CW 200 mg l-1 was found to be the best medium combination for better in vitro rooting and early establishment of plantlet. Plantlets were ready for plant out in six months. Random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis was employed for the molecular characterization of the 40 selected Dendrobium hybrids. The eight primers, selected from the 40 initially screened primers, generated 69 scorable bands of which three were monomorphic and the remaining 66 were polymorphic (95.65 %). All primers produced polymorphic amplification products, however, the extent of polymorphism varied with each primer. Statistical analysis was carried out using NTSYS-PC software and a dendrogram was generated using Jaccard’s similarity coefficients. The overall similarity coefficient ranged from 0.29 to 1.00. The forty selected Dendrobium hybrids that were studied formed 11 clusters in UPGMA cluster analysis. The grouping of hybrids in the cluster was largely consistent with what is known about their breeding history. The cluster based on RAPD analysis using eight primers clearly demonstrates the existence of genetic variation within the 40 selected Dendrobium hybrids. Polymorphism obtained in the present study can be used as fingerprints of the forty selected Dendrobium hybrids.