PhD Thesis
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Item Developing value added and diversified products from coconut(cocos nucifera L)(Department of Home Science, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 2004) Neelofar Illiaskutty; Mary Ukkuru, PItem Documentation and quality evaluation of selected traditional foods of central zone of Kerela(Department of Home Science, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 2009) Aneena, E R; Indira, VThe study entitled “Documentation and quality evaluation of traditional foods of central zone of Kerala” was taken up with the objectives of identifying and collecting information on the various traditional foods of central zone of Kerala and documenting their mode of processing, and evaluating quality characteristics of the selected less used traditional foods. The study was conducted in four districts namely Eranakualm, Thrissur, Palakkad and Malappuram comprising the central zone of Kerala. Senior citizens who possess the details of traditional food items and preparations in each locality were selected as the respondents. The respondents were categorised based on the communities they represent. Details of traditional food habits with respect to preference for traditional foods, the reasons for the preference, frequency of preparation of traditional foods, traditional foods prepared during special occasions, festivals/rituals and during physiological conditions and traditional foods included for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks were collected from the selected respondents. Transition that occurred in the traditional food pattern and in the preparation of traditional foods was also collected. Quality evaluation of selected traditional foods was conducted at laboratory level with respect to chemical constituents, acceptability and microbial growth. The foods were packed in suitable packaging materials and stored under different conditions and the quality evaluation of foods was carried out during storage. Majority of the respondents preferred traditional foods due to their health benefits and palatability. Most of the respondents prepared traditional foods for break fast and lunch and also prepared different traditional snack items. Most of the respondents did not prepare traditional health foods at home due to the laborious procedure involved in the preparation and the commercial availability of these products. Respondents belonging to different communities prepared various traditional foods during special occasions, festivals/rituals and consumed traditional foods during different physiological conditions. Most of the respondents included traditional food items for breakfast and lunch. Changes were observed in the traditional food pattern and traditional foods over different years with respect to ingredients, method of preparation and vessels/ utensils used for preparation. The recent trend of food consumerism was portrayed by the increased frequency of eating out habits, purchase of instant mixes and bakery items. From the traditional food items collected, twelve traditional foods namely inderiyappam, kala kala, kaliyadakka, karinellikka, madhura puttu, manda, muttayappam, niracha pathiri, paniyaram, poruvelangai, rankayyan and vishu katta and three beverages namely, cherunaranga then vellam, inji paneeyam and paanakam which were least used, nutritionally viable and organoleptically acceptable were selected and replicated under laboratory level. Quality evaluation of these foods was conducted initially and during storage. Evaluation of the chemical composition of the traditional foods showed that most of the traditional foods are rich in certain macro and micro nutrients. Organoleptic evaluation of the replicated foods indicated that most of the traditional foods were acceptable to the younger generation. The replicated traditional foods were packed in suitable packaging materials and stored under ambient or ambient and refrigerated conditions for different intervals. Among the different replicated foods inderiyappam, muttayappam, niracha pathiri, rankayyan and vishu katta were highly perishable and could be stored only for a day. The quality attributes of paanakam, cherunaranga then vellam and inji paneeyam also decreased considerably during storage. From the present study, it was found that the selected traditional food items could be replicated under the prevailing conditions without change in their quality aspects. Hence, these technologies should be popularised as an attempt to conserve the traditional cuisines of Kerala.Item Enhancement of propagation efficiency in exotic varities of heliconia(Department of Pomology and Floriculture, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 2008) Reshmi, C R; Sheela, V LItem Women empowerment through group action in the kudumbashree programme of kerala: a multidimensional analysis(Department Of Agricultural Extension, College Of Agriculture, Vellayani, 2007) Priya Devi, R; Mothilal Nehru, SItem Population dynamics and biorational management of melon fly, (bactrocera cucurbitae (coquillet)) in bitter gourd (momordica charantia L.)(Department of Agricultural Entomology, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 2006) Rameash, K; Jim ThomasItem Synergistic interaction of biocides and insecticides on tomato fruit borer helicoverpa armigera (Hubner)(Department of Agricultural Entomology, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 2004) Lily Levin; Ranjith, A MThe tomato fruit borer Helicoverpa armigera (Hubner) is a serious pest of several cultivated crops and has attained global importance. H. armigera displays formidable biological profiles based on multihost feeding, strong flying ability and genetic versatility, and consequently it resists any synthetic insecticide used to control it world wide. This pest is out of control precisely because of overuse of synthetic insecticides, which has led to development of resistance and destruction of natural enemy complex. Hence the present study was carried out to investigate the efficacy and interaction of different plant extracts, microbial pesticides and synthetic chemicals, alone and in combination against H. armigera to reduce the cost, to avoid the after effects of commonly used insecticides and to consider its fitness in different management options. The population of H. armigera was found to be more during October to March period. There was no incidence of pest from July to September period. Among the four ecosystems, tomato recorded the highest number of larvae followed by bhendi, bittergourd and cowpea. The species of natural enemies recorded on H. armigera during the survey period were Carcelia illota, Apanteles taragamae, Chrysoperla carnea, Nosema sp. and Nomuraea rileyi. All these natural enemies are being reported for the first time on H. armigera in Kerala. The plant aqueous extracts (Acorus calamus Linn. , Andrographis paniculata Wall. and Vitex negundo Linn. ) on their own, are not very highly effective, as they cause only about 30 to 40 per cent mortality at five per cent concentration. All the essential oils (Citronella winterianus Jowitt., Cymbopogon flexuosus Steud., Kaempferia galanga Linn. and Cymbopogon martinii Roxb.) are causing more than 50 per cent mortality except citronella oil (C.winterianus). Palmarosa oil (C. martinii) at five per cent concentration recorded the highest percentage of mortality. In the compatibility study, all the three-entomopathogenic fungi (Nomuraea rileyi, Metarhizium anisopliae and Beauveria bassiana) were found to be incompatible with essential oils and compatible with plant extracts and insecticides. But all the commercial formulations of Bacillus thuringiensis were compatible with plant extracts, essential oils and insecticides. The bioassay of entomopathogens with botanicals and insecticides under laboratory conditions produced the following results In the entomopathogenic fungi and plant extracts combinations, N. rileyi + V. negundo (76.6 per cent) M. anisopliae + V. negundo (63.3 per cent) and B. bassiana + V. negundo (56.6 per cent) recorded the maximum mortality. The treatments N. rileyi+ spinosad (96.6 per cent), B. bassiana+ spinosad and M. anisopliae + spinosad (93.3 per cent) recorded the highest mortality in entomopathogen + insecticide combinations. A drastic reduction in LT50 value was noticed in combination treatments. Among the bacterial formulations + plant extract combination, Delfin + V. negundo (83.3 per cent) recorded the highest mortality percentage among the entire three (Halt, Delfin and Dipel) combination products. The time mortality response was reduced from six to seven days to three to four days in combinations. In the case of bacterial formulations + essential oil, the maximum mortality was recorded in B. thuringiensis (Halt, Delfin and Dipel)+ C. martinii followed by B. thuringiensis + K. galanga. The treatment combinations Halt + spinosad, Delfin + spinosad and Dipel + spinosad recorded the maximum mortality percentage. The mean lethal time could be decreased drastically in combinations when compared to individual treatments. The combination NPV + V. negundo recorded the highest mortality percentage in NPV + plant extract combinations. Among the NPV + essential oil combinations, NPV + K. galanga recorded the highest mortality percentage followed by NPV + C. martinii, NPV + C. flexuosus and NPV + C. winterianus. NPV + spinosad combination recorded the highest mortality percentage in NPV + insecticide combinations. The combined treatment of NPV and B. thuringiensis with plant extracts significantly reduced the digestive enzyme (protease, α - amylase, β - amylase and lipase) activity in the midgut of H. armigera. The results of the field experiment indicate that the percentage mortality was more in biocide (B. thuringiensis, NPV and N. rileyi) and insecticides combinations when compared to the individual treatments. The study has identified eight such combinations, which are immediately field worthy. This technology is considered as eco- friendly and economically viable in nature. The present findings will be of immense help to the ordinary farmer and take him out of debt traps and offer him a better future.Item Biochemical and molecular characterisation of njavara types of rice (Oryza sativa L.)(Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 2005) Sanal Kumar, P; Elsy, C RCharacterisation and evaluation of Njavara types of rice (Oryza sativa L.) was under taken in the Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics and Centre for Plant Biotechnology and Molecular Biology, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara during 2001 - 2005 with the aim to characterise the Njavara genotypes based on morphological, biochemical and molecular characteristics, to evaluate its nutritional qualities and to analyse the stability of quantitative and nutritional traits. Morphological characterisation indicated that seven Njavara genotypes included in the present study exhibited similarity among themselves and with check variety for most of the qualitative characters. Some variations were observed with panicle type, panicle axis, apiculus colour, lemma and palea colour, seed coat colour and presence of awn. The Njavara genotypes viz., N1 and N2 (both Njavara types from Chittoor, Palakad) and N6 (Njavara type from Alwaye, Ernakulam) showed lemma and palea colour of black patches or furrows on straw background with black coloured apiculus, N3 and N4 (both Njavara types from Telllicherry, Kannur) showed lemma and palea colour of brown furrows on straw background with brown coloured apiculus, while N5 (Njavara type from Kottakkal, Malappuram) and N7 (Njavara type from Thrissur) showed a lemma and palea colour of gold furrows on straw background with an apiculus colour of straw. Njavara genotypes showed lesser days to maturity (67.9 to 79.1 days) with an average grain yield for Njavara genotypes ranging between 945.56 kg ha-1 and 2127.14 kg ha-1 was low compared to that of check varieties (2491.73 kg ha-1). Majority of the Njavara genotypes expressed high protein content than check varieties. The geotypes N2 and N6 were recommended to be included in weaning and invalid foods and diets during pregnancy and lactation. The genotypes N1, N2, N6 and N7 appeared to have better nutritive value based on the content of free amino acids. Most of the Njavara genotypes had intermediate amylose content ensuring consumer acceptance. Among the Njavara genotypes N3 has highest soluble carbohydrate content while others showed medium soluble carbohydrate content and are desirable as component of weaning and invalid food due to reduced gelatinization period and easy digestibility. Variability studies indicated that grain yield, straw yield and amylase activity provided a good genetic base for selection. The Njavara genotypes showed high heritability with high genetic gain for quantitative and nutritional characters. Correlation studies revealed that grain yield showed high positive correlation with high leaf width, days to 50 per cent heading, panicle length, days to maturity, straw yield, 1000 grain weight, grain width and amylose content. Nutritive factors like protein content and soluble carbohydrate content showed significant negative genotypic correlation with grain yield. Genotype x environment interaction showed that, N1 was stable for plant height panicle length, straw yield and protein content where as N2 was stable for traits like days to 50 per cent heading, culm diameter, days to maturity, grain yield, grain width and amylose content. N3 was stable for leaf length, days to 50 per cent heading and amylase activity where as N4 for leaf length and leaf width. The performance of N5 was stable for seedling height, plant height, panicle length, days to maturity, grain length and width, protein content, free amino acid content and amylose content while N6 was stable for ligule length, culm number, grain yield, 1000 grain weight, soluble carbohydrate content, free amino acid content and amylase activity. N7 had recorded stable performance for 1000 grain weight and soluble carbohydrate content. Biochemical characterisation indicated the possibility of utilising alcohol dehydrogenase polymorphism for identifying Njavara as a cultivar and also for identification of Njavara genotypes N1, N6 and N7. RAPD analysis of Njavara genotypes revealed good amplification with polymorphism for primers OPE 4, 6 and 16, OPP 7, 11, 12 and 19 and amplification with primers OPE 6, OPP 6 and OPP 11 exhibited unique bands for Njavara genotypes. The dendrogram drawn with two molecular markers viz., isozyme and RAPD revealed that the Njavara genotypes were grouped in one cluster whereas check varieties in another.Item Evaluation and improvement of integrated pig farming systems in Kerala(Department of Livestock Production Management, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 2005) Kannan, A; Francis XaviorThe Evaluation of existing pig farming systems of Kerala and the productivity and economic viability of integrated pig-crop/vegetable-fish farming system were studied. A total of 200 pig farmers from five different agroclimatic zones were selected and surveyed using a questionnaire and personal interview. The socio-economic and educational levels of pig farmers and the management practices adapted were analysed. The problems and constraints in pig production were also evaluated. The pig farmers in Kerala belonged to the age group of 31 to 50 years with average monthly income between Rs.4001 to 6000. Christians followed by Hindus but no Muslim took up pig farming. The other agricultural cultivations were coconut, banana, vegetables and arecanut cultivation with the subsidiary animal husbandry activity of cattle rearing and fish farming in costal areas. The rationale behind rearing of pigs was as a source of additional income and majority of the pig farmers had nine to 12 years of experience. Exotic crosses were chiefly preferred to the Desi crosses. Drove was obtained equally from both the government and private farms. A high percentage of pig farmers had herd strength of more than 50 animals with a litter size at birth of nine to 12 and litter size at weaning of seven to nine. Farmers maintained the stock for both fattening and breeding and batch system of fattening was favoured. Swill feeding was the major feeding method and the common feeding frequency was twice daily. The distance between the farm premises and the source of swill ranged from six to10 km and three wheelers were the chief mode of swill transportation. The animals were kept commonly under permanent houses with concrete floor and fully covered thatched roof. The most preferred disposal method was based on live weight. The chief manpower was from family labour. Digestive disorder and ‘Mastitis Metritis Agalactia’ (MMA) were the major problem in adult pigs. The breeding management was the prime concern regarding training need and finance was the main constraint. The farmers were in lack of awareness for vaccination and control of ectoparasites. The farmers have adopted integrated farming in all the agroclimatic zones and showed interest on biogas production, expansion of farm and management through cooperative societies assistance. Twelve progressive farmers of each from Kaiparambu and Kuzhoor Panchayat, Thrissur district of Kerala were supplied with eight Large White Yorkshire grower pigs which were reared under different combination as Pig farming alone as a control group (T1), Pig rearing and Crop/vegetables cultivation (T2) and Broiler chicken, Pig and Fish farming along with crop/vegetables cultivation (T3). The experimental animals in all the three groups were raised on swill and feeding the waste generated by the other components. The other components of integration were a) crop (banana)/ vegetables (Amaranthus, Brinjal, Bindi and Chilli), b) fish (Indian catfish and Assam Vazha) and c) Broiler chicken (Vencob). The parameters like body weight, average monthly and daily weight gains, average daily feed intake, feed conversion efficiency, linear body measurements and carcass traits of pigs on swill feed showed no significant difference and all the combinations of integration were equally effective with respect to all the above parameters. The chicken waste had higher CP content. The average yield and Biomass production of crop/ vegetables, and total yield and average body weight of broiler in different treatments were not statistically significant. However, different varieties of fish within the treatments showed significant difference in their yield and mean body weight. In integrated farming, the net income (Rs) for pigs without integration (10527 .38) was significantly lower than pigs with banana crop (16715.88), pigs with vegetables (12306.38), pigs with banana, fish and chicken (31476.87) and pigs with vegetables, fish and broiler chicken (27129.88). The combination of pig with banana crop had relatively higher return than pig without integration; pig with vegetable; pig with banana crop, fish and broiler chicken and pig with vegetables, fish and broiler chicken and hence the combination of pig and banana is recommended for the marginal farmers of Kerala.Item Prenatal development of brain in goats(Department of Anatomy, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 2005) Lucy, K M; Harshan, K RItem Prenatal development of spinal cord in goats (Capra hircus)(Department of Anatomy, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 2005) Maya, S; Jose John Chungath