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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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19885
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End date: 1988 × Start date: 1988 × Type: Thesis × Thesis Type: Ph.D ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Genetic studies in red gram (eafanui caiaixL)
    (Department of Agricultural Botany, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 1988) Radhakrishnan, V V; KAU; Narayanan Namboodiri, K N
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Chromosome profile of zebu x taurus cattle in Kerala
    (Department of Animal Breeding and Genetics, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 1988) Raghunandanan, K V; KAU; Mukundan, G
    A study was undertaken to evaluate and compare the chromosomal status of Local non – descript, half – bred Jersey, half – bred Holstein Friesian and Jersey cattle and to assess the incidence of chromosomal aberrations causing physiological disorders. The cattle owned by Kerala Agricultural University. Indo – Swiss Project and farmers formed the material for the study. In all, 102 animals consisting of 71 normal and 31 abnormal, were subjected to the study. Peripheral blood leukocyte culture technique with heparinised whole blood was used for chromosome analysis. The medium was TC 199 with phytohaemagglutinin M as mitotic inducer and colchicine as mitotic arrester. The cells in metaphase were harvested and air dried smears stained with Giemsa. Good spreads were photographed and karyotypes prepared. The efficiency of medium was tested using mitotic drive and mitotic index, which were between 32 to 33 per cent and 5 to 6 per cent respectively. Colchicine treatment of 0.1 ml (0.0001%) for 1 hour yielded clear visible chromosome spreads. The blood samples stored for varying time at 50C indicated that the whole blood transported in ice bath (50 C) is to be used within 12 hours after collection for lymphocyte culture. In normal cattle, diploid chromosome number was found to be 2n = 60 with 29 pairs of autosomes and one pair sex chromosome. The males were heterogametic. All the autosomes were acrocentric in Local, half – bred Jersey, half – bred Friesian and Jersey whereas the x chromosome was biarmed and a large submetacentric in all the genetic groups. The Y chromosome was polymorphic being acrocentric in Local and submetacentric in exotic bulls. No satellite was observed in any of the chromosomes. The relative length of largest and smallest autosomes were 6.5080 and 1.3473 per cent in Local, 6.4735 and 1.2250 per cent in half – bred Jersey, 6.2190 and 1.3788 per cent in half – bred Friesian and 6.9125 and 1.3096 per cent in Jersey respectively. The difference in relative length of autosomes between different genetic groups was not found to be significant. The relative length of x chromosome was 7.2838 per cent, 7.0313 per cent, 6.5138 per cent and 6.3166 per cent in Local, half – bred Jersey, half - bred Friesian and pure Jersey respectively. The differences between genetic groups were significant. In the karyotypic array based on relative length, the x chromosome occupied a first position in Local, half – bred Jersey, half – bred Friesian whereas in Jersey it was in between first and second pair of autosomes. The relative length of Y chromosome was 2.9415 per cent, 2.5745 per cent and 2.9375 per cent in Local, Jersey and Holstein Friesian respectively. The difference Local and Holstein Friesian was not significant. In karyological array the Y chromosome occupied a position between 15th and 16th pair of autosomes in Local and Holstein Friesian whereas in Jersey it was between 15th and 20th pair. The arm ratio of x chromosome was 2.043, 1.986, 1.739 and 1.690 in Local, half – bred Jersey, half – bred Friesian and Jersey respectively. In Local cattle the centromere was located away from mid point compared to other genetic groups. The distance between mid point and centromere was lowest in Jersey. The arm ratio of Y chromosome of Jersey and Holstein Friesian was 1.21 and 1.66 respectively. The location of centromere in Y chromosome of Jersey was more towards centre than that of Holstein Friesian. The centromere index of x chromosome was 0.365, 0.329, 0.338 and 0.372 in Local, half – bred Jersey, half – bred Holstein Friesian and Jersey respectively. The values for the centromere index confirm the findings obtained for arm ratio with regard to the proximity of centromere to the mid point of the chromosome. Among the 31 abnormal cattle, chromosomal aberration were observed in one 4 ½ years old sterile Jersey heifer, one Free martin and one Local bullock with abnormally developed secondary sexual characters. Infertile cattle showing repeat breeding, poor semen quality and poor libido did not exhibit any aberration. In the sterile Jersey heifer, 59/60 mosaicism was observed. The Free martin exhibited 60 XX/60 XY chimaerism having 14 per cent of the cells with XY type and others with XX type. The local bullock revealed abnormal development of teats and secretion of milky fluid. The mitotic spreads were of tetraploid nature (4n = 120) in 4.5 per cent cells and the diploid (2n = 60) in others. This animal was diploid tetraploid chimaera or mixoploid. The present study brought out findings that relative length, position in the karyotypic array, arm ratio and centromere index of sex chromosomes shall serve as tool for identification of inter – breed differences and that the occurrence of tetraploidy stimulate the activity of the female secondary sexual characteristics in male cattle.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Analysis of reading comprehension of agricultural articles in daily newspaper by farmers in Kerala State
    (Department of Agricultural Extension, University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore, 1988) Ranjan, S Karippai; KAU; Sethu Rao, M K
    In all phases of development communication of innovations has been accepted as a vital element. Various intwerpersonal and mass media are being utilised by the development agencies to assist in the transfer of technology to the rural areas, where the attention is being focussed in all developing nations. Among the various mass media, print media, particularly newspapers play an important role in places where literacy of the population is relatively high. Newspapers have become very powerful in communication in Kerala State, which rank first in literacy in India, with a wider readership status and a variety of contents including development messages.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Genetic studies in red gram (Cajanus cajan L.)
    (1988) Radhakrishnan, V V
    The research project “Genetic studies in red gram (Csjsnus csjsn h. Mill sp.)* wae carried out at the College of Horticulture, Kerala Agricultural University, Vellanikkara, Trichur during the period 1983-86. The genetic diversity studies among the 112 genotypes of red grans obtained from NBPGR, Vellanikkera and THAU, Coimbatore during 1963-84 showed that the genotypes of the same place of origin fell into different clusters while those of diversified origin fell into seme cluster. All the genotypes studied were grouped into five clusters. Based on both the inter and intr©cluster distances 20 genotypes representing the broad spectrum of variability were selected and raised during 1965-86. The values estimated for phenotypic coefficient of variation and genotypic coefficient of variation showed that number of clusters per plant, number of pods per plant and seed yield possessed high estimates. Number of days from sowing to 50 per cent flowering and seed yield have exhibited high heritabllity coupled with moderately high genetic gain estimate* indicating the involvement of additive gene effect* Ku:ber of days from sowing to harvest and height of plant at harvest, have high or moderately high estimates of heritability together with low values of genetic gain indicating the action of non-additive genes. In nine out of ten cases there has been significant positive correlation between component characters and seed yield both in the phenotypic and genotypic levels, however the correlation of hundred seed weight with seed yield was not significant both at phenotypic and genotypic levels* Intercorrelaticna studies have shown that characters exhibiting significant association with seed yield per plant were also highly intercorrelated indicating that these characters can be simultaneously improved. Path coefficient analysis showed that number of poda par plant, hundred seed weight, number of primary branches at harvest, number of secondary branches at harvest and length of pod bearing branches had high positive direct effects on seed yield in th at order* The residual effect wea 0*07227 indicating that about 93 per cent of the variation in yield were contributed by the ten components considered in path coefficient analysis. The selection index formulated with characters like seed yield, number of pods per plant and hundred seed weight showed an efficiency of 8.4 per cent over direct selection and it includes 57 per cent of the factors determining the yield. Hence it is suggested for isolating superior genotypes. A comparison of different genotypes based on the index value has revealed the superiority of the genotypes NSPGR-XX-EC—10046-1 and HBPGR-124-PLA-345-1 over others. The study paved the way for understanding the source of variability for various factors contributing to yield, the degree of diversity among the genotypes, on the association between yield and its components and between themselves, and helped to formulate selection index for selecting superior genotypes.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Genetic analysis of brown planthopper resistance in rice
    (Department of Plant Breeding, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 1988) Rema Bai, N; KAU; Gopinathan Nair, V
    The Brown planthopper (BPH), Nilaparvata lugens (Stal), has become a serious threat to rice production throughout Asia. Very extensive losses have occurred in India, Indonesia, and the Phylippines. The most severe outbreak in India occurred in Kerala during 1973-74 in ‘Kole’ lands of Trichur district and ‘Kuttanad’ area of Kottayam and Alleppey districts. Although insecticides provide effective control, this approach is expensive and creates problems of environmental pollution. Resistant varieties can provide protection and insurance against this insect pest at no extra cost and with no danger from chemical residues. Very little work has been done in Kerala to identify sources of resistance to the local biotype of BPH and on the genetic basis of BPH resistance. The major objectives of the present investigation were to identify sources of resistance to BPH and to conduct genetic analysis and understand the mode of inheritance of BPH resistance. One hundred and nine rice types were studied for their reaction to BPH through the bulk seedling test at the seedling stage and tiller test and honeydew experiment at the tillering stage. Out of them 41 were found to be resistant, 22 moderately resistant, 13 moderately susceptible and 33 highly susceptible. In the tiller test, 31 out of the 41 resistant varieties were resistant, nine moderately resistant and one moderately susceptible. The thirty one types found resistant under tiller test were subjected to honeydew experiment, out of which 30 were found to be resistant and one was moderately resistant. 2 The inheritance of resistance was studied in eight types selected from among the 30 types proved to be resistant in all the three tests. They were crossed with the susceptible variety TN1 and the F1, F2 and F3 generations were studied by bulk seedling test, tiller test and honeydew experiment. F1 seedlings were also screened by bulk seedling test, tiller test and honeydew experiment. The F2 progenies were screened by the bulk seedling test and tiller test. The F3 seedlings were screened by bulk seedling test only. The F2 and F3 progenies were scored separately as resistant and susceptible types and the observed segregation ratios were tested against the expected by applying the test of goodness of fit. The F1s of all the eight crosses were resistant indicating that resistance in each of the eight types was governed by dominant gene. The F2 populations of all the eight crosses segregated in the ratio of 3 resistant : 1 susceptible indicating that a single dominant gene governed resistance in each of the eight resistant types. F3 breeding behaviour of the nine F2 resistant plants from each of the eight crosses confirmed the monogenic control of resistance over susceptibility. Two dominant genes Bph1 and Bph3 were identified at IRRI (Bph1 in variety Mudgo and Bph3 in RatuHeenati). In the present study, Mudgo containing Bph1 and RatuHeenati with Bph3 gene were not resistant. Hence it is assumed that the dominant resistant gene identified in the present study is neither Bph1 nor Bph3. 3 Diallele crosses were made between six resistant types selected based on diverse origin. The F1 and F2 progenies of the 15 combinations were studied to get information on the allelie relationship between the resistance genes. The F1 progenies of all the crosses were resistant and the F2 progenies were homogeneous for resistance. This lead to the conclusion that all the six types have the same dominant gene for resistance. All the six resistant types were isogenic and hence all of them are expected to carry a dominant gene for BPH resistance other than Bph1 and Bph3. The present study has thus made available several types resistant to the local biotype of BPH and also enabled the location of a new dominant gene conferring resistance to this biotype. These results and the materials made available can form the basis for a more effective breeding approach for BPH resistance in this region.