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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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  • 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.
  • ArticleItemOpen Access
    Isoenzyme variation and species relationship in genus piper
    (Kerala Agricultural University, 1996) Abraham Sebastian; Sujatha, V S; Nybe, E V; Sreekandan Nair, G; Augustine, A; KAU
    Eleven species of Piper including Piper rugrum were studied for variations in isoenzymes of three enzymes viz., peroxidase, esterase and glutaraate oxaloacetate transaminase. On grouping based on isoenzyme similarity, P. nigrum Linn.. P. pseudonigrum Velayudhan and Amalraj, P. bababudani Rahirnan and P. galeatum DC formed one group while P. argyrophyllum Miq. and P. attenuatum Buch-Hara constituted the second group and P. chaha Hunter, P. hapnium Miq. and P. colubrinum Link emerged as the third group. P. betle Linn, and P. longum Linn, showed their distinctness from the rest of the species. Least similarity was observed between P. colubrinum on one side and P. pseudonigrum and P. bahabudani on the other side.
  • ArticleItemOpen Access
    Seed set in ginger (Zingiber Officinale Rosc.) through in vitro pollination
    (Kerala Agricultural University, 1996) Valsala, P A; Sreekandan Nair, G; Nazeem, P A; KAU
    Different in vitro pollination techniques viz., stigmatic, srylar, intra-ovarian, placenta!, modified placental pollination and test-tube fertilization were tried in ginger flowers. The pollen grains suspended in ME, medium were used for pollination. The pollinated pistil or its part was cultured in the medium of 1/2 MS + NAA 0.5 mg 1' + BAP 2.5 mg 1 ' + coconut water 15 per cent v/v. Seed development was obtained in placental, modified placental pollination and test tube fertilization. The seed germinated under in vitro condition on supply of appropriate combination of 2,4-D, BAP and NAA.