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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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ThesisItem Open Access Cryopreservation of chethikoduveli (Plumbago rosea L.) and assessment of genetic fidelity of regenerated plantlets using molecular markers(Department of Plant Biotechnology, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 2014) Anand, Vishnu Prakash; KAUInvestigations on “Cryopreservation of Chethikoduveli (Plumbago rosea L.) and assessment of genetic fidelity of regenerated plantlets using molecular markers” were carried out at the Department of Plant Biotechnology, College of Agriculture, Vellayani during 2011-2013. Plumbago rosea var. Agni plants were collected from AMPRS, Odakkali, Ernakulam and maintained at the Department of Plant Biotechnology, College of Agriculture, Vellayani as source of explant during the course of the study. The objectives of the present study was to standardise cryopreservation protocol by encapsulation dehydration technique for long term conservation of P. rosea and genetic fidelity assessment of plantlets recovered and regenerated from cryostorage using molecular markers. The project was carried out in two phases viz., in vitro regeneration and in vitro conservation by cryopreservation of P. rosea. In vitro regeneration protocol was optimised for P. rosea var. Agni. Various steps of in vitro regeneration viz., surface sterilization, axillary shoot proliferation, in vitro rooting and acclimatization and planting out has been standardised. For surface sterilizing, single nodal explants (3-4 cm long) were subjected to fungicide treatment with 0.1 per cent carbendazim 50 per cent W. P. (for 30 min) followed by aseptic sterilisation dip with absolute alcohol. Further, the explants were surface sterilised with 0.2 per cent mercuric chloride (for 5 min) which gave 100 per cent survival without any contamination. Enhanced release of axillary buds from single nodal explants, with maximum shoot proliferation (5.28 shoots/culture) was obtained in the medium, MS + BA 1.5 mg l-1 + IAA 1.0 mg l-1. The best response (10.67 roots/culture) of in vitro rooting of plantlets was obtained in the medium, MS + NAA 1.0 mg l-1. In vitro rooted plants gave a maximum survival rate of 76 per cent and 72 per cent, when planted out in potting media consisting of red soil and coir pith (3:1) and red soil and coir pith (2:1) supplemented with VAM respectively at 25 per cent shade. In cryopreservation studies, preconditioning treatment (sucrose 0.5 M for 7 days) recorded maximum shoot proliferation (2.67 shoots/culture) when nodal segments with single axillary bud were cultured on MS + BA 1.5 mg l-1 + IAA 1.0 mg l-1 medium. Among different encapsulation treatments, maximum shoot proliferation of (2.31 shoots/culture) was obtained in beads formed with sodium alginate 2.5 per cent and calcium chloride 100 mM, when cultured on the medium, MS + BA 1.5 mg l-1 + IAA 1.0 mg l-1. Pre-culture medium supplemented with sucrose 0.5 M for 3days gave maximum shoot proliferation (3.44 shoots/culture) when cultured on the medium, MS + BA 1.5 mg l-1 + IAA 1.0 mg l-1. A desiccation duration of 5 h at 18.13 per cent moisture level was found to be most effective giving 66.67 per cent survival and 62.50 per cent regeneration on thawing and culturing on the recovery medium MS + BA 1.5 mg l-1 + IAA 1.0 mg l-1. The beads when stored in liquid nitrogen for different duration and cultured on recovery medium did not show any significant variation with respect to survival per cent. RAPD markers were tried to study the genetic fidelity of the regenerated plantlets from encapsulated and cryopreserved axillary buds. Six primers were screened and RAPD banding patterns of the cryoregenerated plantlets and control plants were compared. Polymorphism was not found with any of the primers tested. RAPD profiles of cryoregenerated plantlets were identical to those of the control. The in vitro regeneration protocol optimized included surface sterilization of single node cuttings with 0.2 per cent HgCl2 for 5 min, axillary shoot proliferation in MS medium supplemented with BA 1.5 mg l-1 and IAA 1.0 mg l-1, in vitro rooting in MS medium supplemented with NAA 1.0 mg l-1 and planting out in potting medium, red soil and coir pith (3:1). The protocol for encapsulation dehydration technique of cryopreservation was standardised for the axillary buds of P. rosea with preconditioning in semi solid MS medium supplemented with sucrose 0.5 M for 7 days, encapsulation using sodium alginate 2.5 per cent and calcium chloride 100 mM followed by pre-culture in liquid MS supplemented with sucrose 0.5 M for 3 days and 5 h dehydration (MC 18.13 %), rapid freezing in LN for at least 2 h and recovery in the medium MS + BA 1.5 mg l-1 + IAA 1.0 mg l-1. The cryopreservation protocol using encapsulation-dehydration technique standardised could be utilised for long-term conservation of P. rosea.ThesisItem Open Access Pesticide use pattern and monitoring of residues in cardamom in Idukki district(Department of Agricultural Entomology, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 2013) Seena, S M; KAU; Naseema Beevi, SThe field survey conducted among the farmers of Idukki district revealed that major pest infesting cardamom were shoot and capsule borer and cardamom thrips. For the timely management of these pests, farmers are following strict plant protection measures at an interval of 15 to 40 days with conventional insecticides. Farmers are widely applying heavy doses of chemicals especially the organophosphorus insecticides like phorate, chlorpyriphos, quinalphos, profenophos, methyl parathion and synthetic pyrethroids like cypermethrin and lambda cyhalothrin. Majority of the farmers resort to prophylactic spraying of plant protection chemicals rather than remedial measures. Adoption of IPM strategies are also negligible. Most of the farmers used their own spraying schedules for pest management. The pesticide use pattern in cardamom growing tracts of Idukki district shows that the farmers are applying plant protection chemicals aggressively and the liberal and continual use of pesticides has disturbing consequences on the ecosystem. In multiresidue mehod validation cardamom samples were spiked at five different levels viz. 0.01 µg g-1, 0.05 µg g-1 , 0.10 µg g-1 0.50 µg g-1 and 1 µg g-1 and extraction was carried out using various solvent/ solvent system and the modified QuEChERS method which gave 69.7–110% per cent recovery with RSD < 20 was selected and the same method was adopted for the estimation of pesticide residues from cardamom samples. In order to assess the residue level and to study the extend of contamination due to pesticides in cardamom, samples were collected from the cardamom growing plantations of Idukki district. Three major cardamom growing zones were selected namely Vandanmedu, Udumbanchola and Poopara in Idukki district and ten samples were collected from each location for a period of six months. Data on monitoring of pesticide residues in cardamom samples collected from the study regions for a period of six months revealed varying level of residues of several pesticides. Out of the total 180 samples analyzed, residues were detected in 173 samples and only seven samples were free of residues. Out of the 173 samples detected with pesticide residues, 160 contained multiple residues of pesticides whereas only 13 contained residues of single pesticide. Cardamom capsules contained residues of 16 different pesticide molecules belonging to organochlorines, organophosphates and synthetic pyrethroids. The most common contaminant was quinalphos which was detected in 121 out of 180 samples analysed. Other major contaminants include lambda cyhalothrin (104), cypermethrin (100), chlorpyriphos (87) and profenophos (64). Pesticides detected in cardamom which have no label claim in cardamom include Beta cyfluthrin (5), bifenthrin (3), fenpropathrin (4), fenvalerate (5), lambda cyhalothrin (104), methyl parathion (64) and triazophos (4) . A field experiment was carried out in order to study the curing process on removal of residues of quinalphos, chlorpyriphos, triazophos, cypermethrin, lambda cyhalothrin and imidacloprid. Curing process removed the residues of pesticides at varying levels. Processing factor was worked out for each chemical. Extent of removal of residues as a result of curing were: quinalphos (61.78-67.78%), chlorpyriphos (70.23-76.66%), triazophos (49.62-55.02%), cypermethrin (65.71-67.63%), lambda cyhalothrin (13.15-40.00%) and imidacloprid (75.56-77.32%).ThesisItem Open Access Standardisation of nutrient and weed management techniques for organic rice(Department of Agronomy, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 2013) Murugesh, M S; KAU; Girija Devi, LThe present investigation on “Standardisation of nutrient and weed management techniques for organic rice” was conducted at the Department of Agronomy, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, during 2012-2013. The objectives were to standardise the nutrient schedule, spacing and weed management techniques for organic rice and to assess the economic feasibility of the organic package. The experiment was laid out in the field in split plot design with combination of spacing, S (S1-20 cm x 15 cm and S2-15 cm x 15 cm) and weed management techniques, W (W1-stale seedbed and W2-hand weeding) as main plot treatments and nutrient schedule, N (N1-option-1 of the ad hoc recommendation of KAU: FYM 5 t + 800 kg oil cakes ha-1 (1/2 basal + 1/2 top dressing at active tillering stage), N2-option-2 of the ad hoc recommendation of KAU: FYM 1 t + green leaf manure 1t + dual culture of azolla + 2 kg Azospirillum + 2 kg P solubilizing bacteria + 1kg PGPR (mix 1) ha-1, N3-option-3 of the ad hoc recommendation of KAU: 1/3rd RDN as FYM, 1/3rd as vermicompost and 1/3rd as neem cake + 2 kg Azospirillum + 2 kg P solubilizing bacteria ha-1, N4-soil test based application–half as vermicompost and half as neem cake). The KAU Package of Practices Recommendation (FYM 5 t + 90:45:45 kg NPK ha -1) was taken as control. Closer spacing (S2-15cm x 15 cm), hand weeding (W2) and option-3 of the ad hoc recommendation of KAU (N3) significantly influenced plant height and DMP, while closer spacing (S2-15cm x 15 cm) and option-3 of the ad hoc recommendation of KAU (N3) only had significant influence on tiller production and LAI. Stale seedbed (W1) and closer spacing (S2-15 cm x 15 cm) had significant influence on most of the yield attributing characters, while, among nutrient schedule, N3 (option-3 of the ad hoc recommendation of KAU) attributed the maximum for yield contributing characters, but was on par with N4 (soil test based application) and also with N1 (option-1 of the ad hoc recommendation of KAU) for grain yield. The results on weed control revealed the superiority of closer spacing (S2-15 cm x 15 cm) and stale seedbed technique (W1) over others in controlling the weeds throughout the growth stages. However the weed control efficiency was the lowest in conventional (Control-KAU Package of Practices Recommendation) compared to the organic throughout the growth stages. The nutrient uptake was the highest in N3 (option-3 of the ad hoc recommendation of KAU) and the lowest in N2 (option-2 of the ad hoc recommendation of KAU). However, uptake study had also revealed the superiority of conventional (Control-KAU Package of Practices Recommendation) over organic in the uptake of nutrients. The net returns and B:C ratio were the highest in closely spaced plants (S2-15 cm x 15 cm) and in N3 (option-3 of the ad hoc recommendation of KAU). From the study it can be concluded that for realising higher grain yield in organic rice, a closer spacing of 15 cm x 15 cm (S2) is ideal. Any of the two weed management techniques, i.e., either stale seedbed (W1) or hand weeding (W2) can be practiced for controlling weeds. Option-3 of the ad hoc recommendation of KAU (N3-1/3rd RDN as FYM, 1/3rd as vermicompost and 1/3rd as neem cake + 2 kg Azospirillum + 2 kg P solubilizing bacteria ha-1) is the best nutrient schedule for realizing maximum yield from organic rice. The most economic package for organic rice production is the combination of closer spacing of 15 cm x 15 cm (S2), with stale seedbed technique (W1) of weed control and option-3 of the ad hoc recommendation of KAU (N3-1/3rd RDN as FYM, 1/3rd as vermicompost and1/3rd as neem cake + 2 Kg Azospirillum + 2 Kg P solubilizing bacteria ha-1) as nutrient schedule. The organic package was economically significantly superior to conventional package due to the premium price fetched by organic rice.ThesisItem Open Access Post harvest evaluation of bitter gourd as influenced by growing condition, harvest maturity, prepacking and storage(Department of Processing Technology, College of Agricutlure,Vellayani, 2013) Gajanan Baburao, Phuke; KAU; Geethalekshmi, P RThe present investigation on “Postharvest evaluation of bitter gourd as influenced by growing condition, harvest maturity, prepackaging and storage” was carried out at the Department of Processing Technology, College of Agriculture, Vellayani during 2011-2013, with the objective to determine the stage of harvest maturity and its influence on postharvest life along with prepackaging and storage condition for organically and conventionally grown bitter gourd (var. Preethi) and to develop a postharvest package for extended shelf life with minimum nutritional loss. The experiment was conducted in three continuous phases such as determination of harvest maturity, precooling treatments, prepackaging and storage. Growth and development studies conducted for determining harvest maturity revealed that fruit length, width, weight and flesh thickness increased periodically till 15 days of flowering and percentage of increase was negligible 15 days after flower opening. But conventional fruits recorded higher values for all these physical characters at all the stages of maturity. Considering the development of both external and internal fruit characters, 14 and 15 days after flower opening were selected as optimum harvest maturity for further postharvest studies. Hydrocooling of harvested fruits with 150 ppm sodium hypochlorite was found as the best sanitizing treatment for maintaining the postharvest quality and increased shelf life for both harvest maturities (14 and 15 days) and growing conditions (organic and conventional). Prepackaging and storage trials revealed that prepackaging treatments, growing conditions and storage temperature had significant influence on shelf life and nutritional qualities of fruits. Fruits with 14 days maturity, grown organically, prepackaged in micro ventilated polyethylene and stored under refrigerated condition had resulted in lowest PLW. Nutritional parameters of fruits viz, protein, acidity, fibre, calcium, magnesium, iron and ascorbic acid were analysed before storage and at the end of shelf life. Before storage, none of the factors except growing conditions had significantly influenced the nutritional parameters. Fruits grown conventionally had higher protein and organic fruits exhibited high fibre, Ca, Mg, Fe and ascorbic acid content. Storage studies revealed that refrigerated storage after prepackaging in micro ventilated PE had lower nutritional and physiological changes during storage. From the study it can be concluded that bitter gourd (var. Preethi) fruits can be harvested at 14 days maturity for export and long distance market and 15 days for domestic market grown under both organic and conventional system in order to reduce the postharvest losses. Harvested fruits precooled with water containing 150 ppm sodium hypochlorite, prepackaged in micro ventilated polyethylene and stored under refrigerated condition was effective for extending the shelf life with minimum nutritional loss.ThesisItem Open Access Standardization of organic nutrient schedule for chilli (Capsicum annuam)(Department of Agronomy, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 2013) Akshay; KAU; Sajitha Rani, TThe research project entitled ‘Standardization of organic nutrient schedule for chilli (Capsicum annuum)’ was conducted at Instructional Farm attached to the College of Agriculture, Vellayani during the kharif season of 2012 to standardize the organic nutrient schedule for chilli and to work out the economics. The investigation was laid out as factorial experiment in Randomized Block Design (RBD) with three replications. The treatments consisted of three levels of FYM - F1 (20 t ha-1), F2 (15 t ha-1) and F3 (10 t ha-1) and three levels of substitution of the recommended dose of nitrogen. The levels of substitution are N1 (100 % recommended dose of N- 75 kg ha-1), N2 (75 % recommended dose of N -56.25 kg ha-1) and N3 (50 % recommended dose of N - 37.5 kg ha-1). FYM along with neem cake in 1: 1 ratio is used as organic manure for N substitution. Three controls were also tested in this study. Thèse controls are C1 (KAU POP recommendation -.FYM@ 25 t ha-1 along with75:40:25 kg N:P2O5:K20 ha-1 as inorganic fertilizer), C2 ( KAU Adhoc organic POP recommendation -FYM @25 t ha-1 + Poultry manure at 5 t ha-1 + Pseudomonas + Trichoderma and PGPR mix 1, each @2.5 kg ha-1) and C3 (Farmers practice - Cow dung slurry @ 20 t ha-1) Result of the study revealed that FYM @ 20 t ha-1 recorded significantly higher plant height, no of branches & LAI. The maximum value for all growth parameters were observed at 100% level of N substitution .Combined application of FYM @ 20 t ha-1 along with 100% substitution of recommended dose of N (75 kg ha-1) in organic form registered maximum plant height, branches, LAI, and root spread .This treatment was on par with KAU POP and Adhoc organic POP Maximum yield was recorede at the highest level of FYM (20 t ha-1). Yield contributing characters were also significantly higher at this level. Among the levels of substitution 100% substitution recorded maximum productivity. Application of FYM @ 20 t ha-1 along with 100 % recommended dose of N (75 kg ha-1) as organic form gave maximum productivity which was on par with the yield realized from KAU Adhoc organic POP and KAU POP. Highest level of FYM @ 20 t ha-1 and 100 % substitution of recommended dose of N recorded maximum ascorbic acid, capsaicin content and shelf life. FYM @ 20 t ha-1 along with 100% of substitution of N as organic recorded maximum capsaicin content which was on par with KAU POP recommendation. Ad hoc organic POP recommendation of KAU recorded maximum ascorbic acid content. KAU POP recommendation registered significantly higher N and K uptake than other treatments. Adhoc organic POP recommendations of KAU recorded highest soil pH and organic carbon content. Available nitrogen status of soil was significantly higher in Adhoc organic POP recommendations of KAU but P and K status were on par to KAU POP. Highest B:C ratio and net income were realized in KAU POP. Best nutrient schedules for realising maximum yield from organic chilli is 1) FYM @20 t ha-1 along with 75kg N ha -1 applied through a combination of FYM and neem cake in 1 : 1 ratio + Pseudomonas + Trichoderma and PGPR mix 1, each @2.5 kg ha-1 and 2) Adhoc POP recommendation of KAU -FYM @ 25 t ha-1 along with poultry manure @ 5 t ha-1 + Pseudomonas+Trichoderma and PGPR mix 1, each @2.5 kg ha-1. Economic nutrient schedule for organic chilli is application of FYM @ 25 t ha-1 along with poultry manure @ 5 t ha-1 + Pseudomonas + Trichoderma and PGPR mix 1, each @2.5 kThesisItem Open Access Livelihood analysis of kattunaikan tribe of Wayanad(Department Of Agricultural Extension, College Of Agriculture, Vellayani, 2013) Sreejas, S; KAU; Sakeer Husain, AThe study entitled “Livelihood Analysis of Kattunaikan tribe of Wayanad” was conducted to analyse Livelihood capital and to study the Extent of deprivation of Kattunaikan tribe of Wayanad. Their Social exclusion, Attitude towards developmental interventions, and the Constraints experienced by them in livelihood security were also studied. The study “Livelihood Analysis of Kattunaikan tribe of Wayanad” was conducted in three developmental blocks of Wayanad district namely Sulthan batheri, Mananthavady and Kalpetta. The selection of number of settlements from each block was done based upon the population of Kattunaikans in each block. Three settlements Random sampling technique was followed in the selection respondents. From each settlement, 20 family heads were randomly selected. Total sample size for the study was 120. The dependent variables selected for the study were Livelihood capital, Extent of deprivation and Social exclusion. Independent variables were selected which includes Age, Landholding, Family size, Value orientation, Political orientation, Change resistance, Modernization, Alcoholism and Attitude. The correlation between dependent and independent variables was studied using correlation analysis. Constraints experienced in livelihood security were also recorded from a number of identified statements as perceived by the tribes people. The data were collected using pre-tested structured interview schedule prepared for the study. The statistical tools like mean, percentage analysis and correlation analysis were used to analyse the data. The salient findings are presented below. Majority of the Kattunaikans (55%) belonged to young category. Most of the Kattunaikans( 52.5%) had only upto 10 cents of land holding. More than 30 per cent of the Kattunaikans had six members in their family. Majority (62.5%) of the respondents were traditional. Ninety two point five per cent of the respondents were politically oriented. Majority (92.5%) of the respondents were least resistant to change. Forty five point eight per cent of the respondents were non users of alcohol. More than 90 percent of the respondents were modern. Majority (69.2%) of the respondents had a positive attitude towards developmental interventions. In the case of Human capital, it was observed that 50.8 per cent of the respondents were illiterate. More than three fourth (85%) of the respondents were included in the high hygiene category. Majority (63.3%) were having high addictive behaviour. More than half (61.7%) of the respondents were having poor health care seeking behavior. Majority (92.5%) of the respondents were taking unbalanced diet. Human capital was estimated as 51.6. With respect to Physical capital it was found out that More than 50 per cent of the respondents were having concrete houses. Exactly 42.5 per cent of the respondents were having houses with good condition. More than 40 percent of the respondents were having Material possession of only 1000-5000 rupees. Forty per cent of the respondents were having no livestock possession. More than half (69.2%) of the households have in-house toilet facility. Sixty per cent of the respondents were having electric connectivity in their houses. Majority (74.2%) of the respondents have to go up to 500m for collecting water. Physical capital was estimated as 59.9 Annual income of the respondents ranges from Rs.6200 to Rs.96000.The average annual income was found to be Rs 22435/-. The mean expenditure was found out as Rs.20605.83/-. Only 24.2 percent of the respondents were having savings. Only 4.2 percent had a debt for an average amount of Rs. 9000. Financial capital was estimated as 59.6. The poverty gap was estimated as Rs. 20242. More than 90 per cent of the respondents are trapped in poverty. The study indicated that53.3 per cent of the respondents belong to the low social participation category. Majority (60.9%) of the respondents were having a good social relationship. Social capital was estimated as 50.6 With respect to gross cropped area, 50 per cent of the respondents were in the category of ‘very low’. More than half (56.7%) of the respondents depend heavily on natural resources for their livelihood. Natural capital Index was found out as 35.9. The Livelihood Capital Index was obtained as 51.5. More than three fourth (77.5%) of the respondents were having medium livelihood capital index The respondents were mostly deprived of cultivable land in the forest, income, land, employment, recreation, nutrition, clothing and food. Nearly half (50.84%) of the respondents were in the low social exclusion category. The relationship between independent and dependent variables revealed that landholding showed positive significant relationship with Livelihood capital. Attitude showed negative significant relationship with Deprivation. Change resistance showed positive significant relationship and modernization showed negative relationship with social exclusion. Extent of deprivation is negatively and significantly correlated with Human capital, Social capital and Financial capital. The most important constraint faced by the tribes people is the absence of title deeds. Landless and inadequate land for cultivation, alcoholism and smoking, growing unemployment, wild animal menace and scarcity of drinking water were the other important constraints faced by the Kattunaikan tribe in livelihood security. Kattunikans have to be developed by considering their culture and tradition. From the study it is clear that even though they were having an inclination towards their values, they are getting modernised. It can be said that they are in a transition stage. They are less empowered. Empowerment through education is essential. Illiteracy, income deprivation and associated ill effects are very much prevalent among them. So educational development by utilizing the educated Kattunaikans as teachers, establishment of value addition units of forest produces and in the settlements especially for women and contributory savings schemes (through co-operative societies) have to be established.ThesisItem Open Access Eco - Friendly management strategies against pod borer complex of Cowpea vigna unguiculata var.sesquiedalis (L) Verdcourt(Department of Agricultural Entomology, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 2013) Subhasree, S; KAU; Maicykutty Mathew, PThe investigations on “Eco-friendly management strategies against pod borer complex of cowpea, Vigna unguiculata var. sesquipedalis (L.) Verdcourt” was taken up at Department of Agricultural Entomology, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara during October 2012 to January 2013. The short duration bushy variety of cowpea, Bhagyalakshmi susceptible to pod borers was used for the study. The experiment aimed at, evaluating the efficacy of a botanical viz., azadirachtin (0.005%), bioagents viz., Beauveria bassiana (1%), Metarhizium anisopliae (1%), Bacillus thuringiensis (0.2%) along with their sequential application (azadirachtin followed by B. bassiana, azadirachtin followed by M. anisopliae, azadirachtin followed by B. thuringiensis), a safer chemical viz., flubendiamide 480SC (0.008%) and a standard check (quinalphos 0.05%) against pod borer complex of cowpea under field conditions, studying the species composition of pod borer complex of cowpea and the natural enemies associated with them. Considering the three consecutive sprays at fortnightly intervals starting from flowering, flubendiamide was found to be highly effective in managing the larval population of pod borers compared to azadirachtin and bioagents. A single application of the same reduced the population of pod borers significantly. In the case of quinalphos the population of pod borers showed a decreasing trend up to seven days after each spraying and increased thereafter. Azadirachtin, M. anisopliae and B. thuringiensis recorded larval population below economic threshold level starting from 14th day after first spraying till the end of cropping period. With respect to per cent pod damage (in terms of number and weight) flubendiamide was found to be significantly superior over control and all other treatments were on par. Though quinalphos recorded the highest total yield both in terms of weight and number, application of flubendiamide resulted in the highest number of marketable pods. The total yield recorded in terms of weight was higher in B. thuringiensis than other bioagents. Azadirachtin followed by B. thuringiensis application resulted in high marketable yield among bioagents and botanical, followed by B. bassiana and were on par with the two chemical insecticides. Flubendiamide recorded the highest B: C ratio followed by quinalphos. Among the bioagents B. bassiana recorded a B: C ratio next to quinalphos and was followed by B. thuringiensis, azadirachtin followed by B. thuringiensis and M. anisopliae. Two species of pod borers were recorded on cowpea viz., spotted pod borer (Maruca vitrata) and pea blue butterfly (Lampides boeticus). M. vitrata was the major species of pod borer under Vellanikkara conditions compared to L. boeticus. The population of L. boeticus increased when there were more pods in the field compared to flowers. Two species of hymenopteran larval parasitoids belonging to the family Braconidae observed on M. vitrata were Apanteles sp. and Phanerotoma sp.ThesisItem Open Access Characterisation of Pathogenesis related proteins for anthracnose resistance in vegetable cowpea, Vigna spp.(Centre for Plant Biotechnology and Molecular Biology, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 2013) Agatha Shiny, A; KAU; Deepu MathewCowpea (Family: Fabaceae) is an important pulse cum vegetable crop of suitable for the tropical and sub-tropical regions of the world. The grain type cowpeas better tolerates the biotic and abiotic stresses against the vegetable types. Under humid conditions, vegetable types, especially the pole types are susceptible to many diseases and among them, anthracnose caused by Colletotrichum lindemuthianum (Sacc. & Magn.) Br. and Cav. is very severe. In Kerala, complete yield loss in vegetable cowpea is reported due to anthracnose during monsoons. The study entitled “Characterization of pathogenesis related proteins for anthracnose resistance in vegetable cowpea, Vigna spp.” was carried out with objective to develop the protein profiles of resistant and susceptible bush and pole genotypes through SDS-PAGE analysis at different time intervals of infection and to characterize the differentially expressed proteins by MALDI-TOF followed by in-silico analyses. Two bush type varieties Pusa Komal and Kanakamony, the former reported to be highly susceptible and the latter immune to anthracnose and two pole type varieties Lola and Arimbra Local, of which the former susceptible and the latter resistant were used in the study. Pure culture of the pathogenic fungus was developed and maintained on selective medium (Neopeptone-Glucose-Agar) at the Dept. of Plant Pathology. The identity of Colletotrichum lindemuthianum has been established from the spore characteristics observed under phase contrast microscope and the pathogenicity was confirmed through artificial inoculation under controlled conditions. The pot culture experiment was conducted with 50 pots per variety. Artificial inoculation of pathogenic fungus was done and the leaf samples were collected at 0, 6, 12, 18, 24, 48, 72, 96, 120, 144,168 and 192 hours after artificial inoculation. The total protein was extracted using Tris-HCl buffer (pH-7.5), quantified using spectrophotometer and analyzed by SDS-PAGE method. The defense enzymes like peroxidase (PO), polyphenol oxidase (PPO) and phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL) were assayed. By artificial inoculation, disease responses for anthracnose were confirmed to be highly susceptible in Pusa Komal and Lola; highly resistant in Arimbra Local and immune in Kanakamony. Protein expression was found to be higher from the initial hours in resistant varieties whereas in susceptible varieties, the expression was reduced immediately after infection then peaked at 18hr and gradually decreased later on. Two prominent and differentially expressed protein bands at 56 kD and 14 kD were sequenced in MALDI-TOF to obtain the peptide mass fingerprint. Through in-silico analyses using Mascot server software, they were identified to be the large and small subunits of the chloroplastic enzyme RuBisCo. Thus the capability of a variety to maintain high levels of RuBisCo was found to be the deciding factor for anthracnose disease resistance. Further, protein profiles developed after purification of proteins by dialysis have clearly identified the differentially expressed band at 29 kD in the resistant varieties which is in the size range of already reported PR proteins. PO and PAL activities were proportionate to the resistance behavior, with the peak values at 18 and 24 hr after inoculation. With the results of this study, these defense enzymes are recommended as biochemical markers for identifying the resistance in the accessions. Capability to maintain higher levels of RuBisCo, PO and PAL enzymes is the characteristic of anthracnose resistant vegetable cowpeas and the future breeding programmes could be oriented in this directionThesisItem Open Access Social exclusion of tribal agricultural labourers; the case of paniya tribe of wayanad(Department Of Agricultural Extension, College Of Agriculture, Vellayani, 2013) Anoop, R J; KAU; Anil Kumar, APaniya tribes of Wayanad are the most backward among the vulnerable groups of Kerala. Their economy is traditional in nature, depending mainly on land and forest. On accounting the land utilisation pattern of Wayanad district has drastically changed owing to massive in-migration of people from the plains to these areas in search of land for cultivation and for starting plantations. Inappropriate implementation of schemes and lack of adequate technological support resulted in a drastic decline in the economy of the tribespeople resulting in their exclusion and deprivation. This study entitled "Social Exclusion of tribal agricultural labourers: A case of Paniya tribe of Wayanad" was an attempt to analyse the Social exclusion and their deprivation. The study was conducted in Wayanad district of Kerala. A sample of 90 tribespeople were selected randomly from three blocks of Wayanad district viz, Panamaram. Noolpuzha and Kaniyambetta. The study indicated that most of the tribespeople belonged to the middle age group, 48 per cent of the tribespeople. Among the respondents 82 per cent were illiterate and only 9% of the tribes had schooling. 89 per cent of the tribespeople had high level of environmental orientation and 100 per cent of them consume alcohol. The study revealed that the Paniya tribespeople had landholdings only up to 10 cents. 76% of the tribespeople had an area of 4-6 cents. It was identified that 67 per cent of the tribes do not use the land on lease and 21 per cent of the tribes had leased landholding of 3-4 cents. From the study it was found that 47 per cent of the tribes had an income ranging from Rs.3001-Rs.4000. The indebtedness as indicated 50 per cent have a debt amount ranging Rs.1000- Rs.2000. From the result it was revealed that 84 per cent of the tribes live in brick or laterite walled tile house. 65 per cent of the tribespeople live in a poor conditioned home. Classification of tribespeople based on social exclusion reveals that 54 per cent of the tribespeople have felt social exclusion and 46 per cent of them is do not feel they are socially excluded. On classifying the tribespeople based on deprivation it was found that 100 per cent of the Paniya tribespeople felt that they were deprived of the social functioning.
