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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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    Institutional PublicationsItemOpen Access
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    Institutional PublicationsItemOpen Access
    Thirty years of RARS: glimpses on research accomplishments
    (Kerala Agricultural University, Vellanikkara, 2011) KAU
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    Institutional PublicationsItemOpen Access
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    Institutional PublicationsItemOpen Access
    Three decades of phytopathological research at college of horticulture
    (Kerala Agricultural University, Vellanikkara, 2011) Sally Mathew, K; KAU
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    Institutional PublicationsItemOpen Access
    Oru Parilenthirikkunu
    (College of Horticulture, Vellanikara, 2011) KAU
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    BookItemOpen Access
    Budget estimate 2010 - 2011
    (Kerala Agricultural University, Vellanikkara, 2011) KAU
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Heterosis breeding in sesame (Sesamum indicum L.).
    (Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 2011) Gayathri, G; KAU; Dijee, Bastian
    The study entitled ‘Heterosis breeding in sesame (Sesamum indicum L.)’ was undertaken at the Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara. The objectives of the study were to collect and evaluate different genotypes of sesame for morphological traits and yield attributes, to identify useful parents producing heterotic crosses and developing hybrids in sesame. The study also intended to develop male sterile lines in sesame through interspecific hybridization with Sesamum malabaricum. Sesamum indicum and Sesamum malabaricum accessions were collected from Kerala and Tamil Nadu and evaluated for their morphological traits. Wide range of variation was noticed for characters like plant height, number of days to flowering and seed yield per plant which contributed maximum to genetic divergence. The genotypes studied were grouped into six clusters. High genotypic coefficient of variation (GCV) was recorded for number of capsules per plant, plant height, seed yield per plant and number of branches per plant. High heritability with high genetic advance as per cent of mean was recorded for number of days to flowering, plant height, number of branches per plant, number of capsules per plant and seed yield per plant. This indicates that the characters are governed by additive gene effects and selection for these traits will be effective. Association analysis revealed that seed yield per plant was correlated to plant height, number of capsules per plant and number of days to flowering. Path coefficient analysis indicated maximum positive direct effect by number of capsules per plant, capsule length, plant height and 1000 seed weight on seed yield per plant. In order to develop hybrids, fourteen parents were selected based on the per se performance of the genotypes. They were crossed in line X tester mating design. Forty eight hybrid combinations obtained were raised in the field along with the parents and evaluated for their heterosis and combining ability effects. Parental genotypes AVTS-06-5, AVTS-06-10, IVTS-06-12, KYM-1, Tilak and TMV-6 were identified as high combiners based on general combining ability (gca) effects. Two combinations viz. AVTS-06-5 X KYM-1 and IVTS-06-12 X TMV-3 had significant values of per se performance, specific combining ability (sca) effects and standard heterosis for seed yield per plant. They can be evaluated for their hybrid vigour over locations and seasons. The crosses AVTS-06-5 X TMV-3, AVTS-06-5 X TMV-6 and TCR 3279A X KYM-1 have been identified as potential cross combinations for isolation of promising segregants as the parents involved in these crosses had high significant gca effects for seed yield per plant but the hybrids recorded non significant sca effects. Interspecific hybridization between S.malabaricum and S.indicum was attempted to develop male sterile lines. Seed set was noticed in three interspecific hybrids which failed to germinate due to embryo abortion. Hence these embryos were rescued and raised in vitro to obtain the hybrids.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Invitro propagation in ashoka : saraca asoca (Roxb.) de wilde.
    (Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 2011) Brindha Devi, I; KAU; Sreenivasan, E
    Asoka (Saraca asoca) is an important medicinal and ornamental tropical tree currently facing the threat of extinction due to overexploitation of trees occurring in forests and other natural habitats. Unscientific and destructive extraction of bark from trees has lead to acute shortage of raw bark by ayurvedic industries. Hence, the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) has listed this species under ‘globally vulnerable’ category. It is also enlisted among the 36 threatened and endangered medicinal plants of India. It is considered as the sacred tree of buddhists and Hindus. Literally the term ‘asoca’ means ‘sorrow-less’ and the tree is believed to remove the grief and unhappiness. The tree has immense medicinal properties. Its bark is considered as the primary medicinal part. Due to its acute short supply compared to its demand, various development and research activities are being prioritized to conserve, utilize and improve this species. It is mainly propagated by seeds. Due to heterozygous and cross pollinated nature of the species, it never gives a true to type progeny. Therefore the present study was undertaken to standardize the technique of in vitro propagation of Saraca asoca. Standardization of suitable explants, surface sterilization procedures and culture establishment protocol, Induction of multiple shoots and Elongation of root, hardening and planting out are the major objectives of the study. Nodal segment, Internodal segment and shoot tip were the three explants tried. Various surface sterilization procedures were tried using Chloramphenicol, ethyl alcohol, 0.1% mercuric chloride and combination of ethyl alcohol and mercuric chloride in various concentration and duration, using nodal segments as explant. Surface sterilization using 70% ethyl alcohol for 3 minutes followed by 0.1% mercuric chloride for minutes proved to be the best, which gave the maximum survival percentage of 80.   The next part of the study was standardisation of suitable explants for culture establishment. Among the three explants, Nodal segments gave maximum response of 60 per cent in ½ MS medium with BAP 0.5mg/l. This was followed by shoot tips in the same medium, which gave 10 per cent response. Internodal segments did not respond in any of the media used. Standardisation of basal media for culture establishment was done using nodal segments as the explants. Three media supplemented with BA 0.5 mg.l-1 were tried viz. MS, Half strenght MS, Woody plant media. Among the three, ½ MS media was identified as the best basal medium followed by MS medium. No response was seen in WPM medium. Culture establishment as well as Shoot bud initiation was attempted in ½ MS and MS media with various growth regulator combinations. Maximum response of 60 per cent was obtained in ½ MS medium containing BAP 0.5 mg/l followed by 30 percent in the same medium containing BAP 1.5 mg/l. There were no response with 2,4-D. The response obtained was callusing in all cases. Induction of multiple shooting was tried in ½ MS medium supplemented with BAP, and Kn alone as well as combinations of BAP, IAA at various concentration. Here highest response of 30 per cent of single shoots was recorded in ½ MS media containing BAP 0.5 mg/l. Response was in the form of single shoot. The single shoots with a mean length of about 1.5mm after one week of growth was obtained. With BAP 2.0 mg/l, single shoots were produced in about 5% of cultures within 54 days. Effect of Kn in various concentration ranging from 0.5 to 2.0 mg/l was found to be low in shoot induction. The maximum length of shoot of about 1.6 cm was recorded in combination of BAP 0.5 mg/l and IAA0.5 mg/l. Various combinations of IAA and IBA at different concentrations were tried for rooting of in vitro shoots. However there was no response in any of the combinations tried.
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Organic nutrition for soil health and productivity of chilli (Capsicum annuum L.)
    (Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry,College of Agriculture,Vellayani, 2011) Lekshmi, V; Ushakumari, K
    An investigation was carried out at the Instructional farm, attached to the College of Agriculture, Vellayani to evaluate the effect of two enriched composts viz. BM compost and EM compost at different rates alone as well as in combination with two growth promoters viz, Panchagavya and vermiwash on physico-chemical and biological properties of soil and also their impact on crop performance using chilli variety Vellayani Athulya as test crop. The results from the field experiment revealed that the plant growth characters viz. height of the plant at 30, 60 and 90 DAT and primary branches per plant at 90 DAT showed significant variation due to the application of 75% N as BM compost along with Panchagavya. The treatments did not significantly affect the biometric observation, ‘days to 50% flowering’. Significant differences were observed among yield attributing characters viz. number of fruits per plant, fruit length (cm), fruit girth (cm), fruit weight (g), green fruit yield per (g plant-1), total fruit yield (t ha-1) and total dry matter yield (t ha-1). The treatment T8 (75% N as BM compost + Panchagavya) recorded the highest values for all these characters but it was found to be on par with T7 (75% N as EM compost + Panchagavya). This shows that BM compost can be substituted with EM compost when used along with Panchagavya. With respect to quality characters, the treatment T8 (75% N as BM compost + Panchagavya) registered the highest values for capsaicin, ascorbic acid and shelf life of fruits. However ‘oleoresin’ was not influenced by different treatments. Disease incidence percentage (Colletotrichum fruit rot) was found to be reduced by the treatments with organic sources. The treatment T8 (75% N as BM compost + Panchagavya) reduced the incidence of pests and diseases to a considerable extent. Highest BC ratio also was recorded by the same treatment T8 (75% N as BM compost + Panchagavya). Post harvest analysis of the soil indicated that organic carbon, available macro and micro nutrients pH, EC and microbial load and dehydrogenase activity were increased by the combined application of enriched manures viz. 75% N as BM compost and Panchagavya or 75% N as EM compost and Panchagavya. Bulk density was found to be reduced favourably. From the results it was clearly indicated that 75% N as BM compost and Panchagavya or 75% N as EM compost and Panchagavya was superior to all other organic sources in promoting soil health and yield and quality of chilli.