1. KAUTIR (Kerala Agricultural University Theses Information and Retrieval)

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    Morpho-molecular characterisation and evaluation of TxD, DxT and DxD hybrids of coconut cultivar ayiramkachi (Cocos nucifera L.)
    (Department of Plant Biotechnology, College of Agriculture, Padannakkad, 2021) Haritha, M R; Sujatha, R
    Study on “Morpho-molecular characterisation and evaluation of TxD, DxT and DxD hybrids of coconut cultivar Ayiramkachi (Cocos nucifera L.)” was carried out at the Department of Plant Biotechnology, College of Agriculture, Padannakkad during 2018-2020. This investigation aimed at morphological and molecular characterisation of hybrids planted at RARS Pilicode during 1994, in the hybridization programme involving different tall and dwarf genotypes (WCT, Laccadive Ordinary, Philippines, Laccadive Micro, Andaman Ordinary and Malayan Yellow Dwarf) with Ayiramkachi, for important yield attributes and nut quality combined with dwarf stature. The evaluation based on morphological characters recorded during 2018-2020 revealed that the hybrids LMxAYK, MYDxAYK and LOxAYK were promising ones with high yield (155.50, 115.33 and 116.50 nuts/ palm/year respectively) and superior nut characters such as fruit weight, nut weight, shell and meat weight, kernel thickness and copra content. Hybrid PHIxAYK was superior for all the nut characters combined with a shorter stature but the yield was comparatively less (81.67 nuts/ palm/ year). The hybrid CCxAYK was high yielding (150.67 nuts/ palm/ year) but inferior in nut characters. Hybrid AOxAYK recorded good nut characters but was low yielding (61.50 nuts/palm/year). Hybrids of AYK with WCT recorded a moderate yield (95.00 nuts/ palm/ year) with inferior nut characters, and hybrid AYKxMYD was inferior for both yield (21 nuts/ palm/ year) and nut characters. On analysing the TxD, DxT and DxD groups with their tall (T) and dwarf (D) parents, all the hybrids recorded palm height statistically similar to the dwarf cultivars, which may be an indication of inheritance of shorter stature from the common parent AYK. Study on genetic parameters revealed that characters such as palm height, internode length, number of green leaves, rate of leaf production, petiole length, leaf length, number of female flowers per inflorescence, number of female flowers one month after pollination and shell and meat weight had shown high heritability (H2) coupled with high genetic advance as per cent means (GAM%). Hence choice of such characters are best suited for selective breeding. Yield and copra content had shownmedium heritability with high genetic advance. This might be due to the indirect effect of secondary characters contributing to them. Estimation of heterobeltiosis (superiority over better parent) and standard heterosis (superiority over standard check, Kerasree) for the nine hybrids of Ayiramkachi revealed that the hybrids LMxAYK and MYDxAYK were found to be better performers with respect to yield as well as nut characters, and can be exploited for developing commercially important hybrids suitable for culinary as well as processing purposes (copra and other value added products). The hybrid CCxAYK was high yielding but inferior in nut characters. As one of the parent in this cross, Cochin China, is suitable for tender nut purpose due to high nut water content, the hybrid nuts also may be further evaluated at tender nut stage for its suitability for tender nut purpose. Thirty four SSR markers were screened for polymorphism among the eight parental cultivars and the check palm (Kerasree). The markers produced an average of 52.94% polymorphism and 1 to 2 alleles/locus. Out of 34 SSR markers screened for polymorphism, 15 markers viz., CAC02, CAC11, CNZ40, CNZ44, CnCirA9, CnCirB12, CnCirE2, CnCirC7, CnCirH4, CnCirE12, CnCirC3, CnCirF2, CnCirH7, CnCirG11 and CnCirC5 were able to detect the polymorphism between the parental palms and hence can be utilized in future for fingerprinting the hybrid palms.
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    Morpho-molecular characterisation of D x D hybrids developed using 'annur', the dwarf ecotype of WCT coconut ( Cocos nucifera L.)
    (Department of plant breeding and genetics, College of Agriculture, Padannakkad, 2021) Anuprasad, T E; Sujatha, R
    Coconut is one of the most extensively grown crop in the world, playing a significant role in the economic, cultural, and social life of over 80 tropical countries. Coconut cultivars are classified into tall (variety typica) and dwarf (variety nana) types. Short statured palms are currently receiving more attention due to various socio-economic factors. However, the poor quality of nuts for various processing aspects and high susceptibility of dwarf palms to pest and diseases makes them unsuitable for large scale cultivation. The solution for this problem is development of suitable hybrids by combining the desirable features of tall and dwarf palms. West Coast Tall (WCT) is the most widely cultivated variety in Kerala and several ecotypes of WCT were reported. In a study initiated in 2005 at RARS Pilicode, an ecotype of WCT was detected in Annur, a place in Kannur district which showed dwarfing nature with nut qualities similar to WCT. The Annur ecotype was crossed in 2007-08 with the dwarf cultivars Malayan Yellow Dwarf (MYD) and Gangabondam (GB). The hybrid seed nuts along with interse seed nuts of Annur were planted at RARS Pilicode in 2009. The first flowering was recorded in 2014. The present study aims at evaluation of plant stature, yield, nut quality and other important morphological traits of Annur and the hybrids developed from it. The interse of Annur, Annur x GB and Annur x MYD were compared with corresponding characters of the respective parents as well as WCT, Keraganga (WCT x GB) and Kerasree (WCT x MYD). Significant reduction in height was observed for hybrids viz. Annur x MYD (2.251 m) and Annur x GB (2.065 m) which was on par with Annur (2.725 m) and considerably lower than the corresponding values of dwarf cultivars viz., MYD (5.2 m) and GB (8.885 m). Number of nuts per palm per year was on par in Annur (58.2) and Annur x MYD (55.4) while that was lower in hybrid Annur x GB (34.3). However, since the palms started flowering only in 2014, stabilization of yield is not attained. Nut weight and kernel thickness were significantly higher in Annur x MYD whereas these were on par in Annurand Annur x GB. Copra content in Annur and both hybrids were on par. In general, Annur x MYD showed superior performance for nut characters compared to Annur x GB. Annur palms were significantly similar to WCT for most of the characters except height, rate of leaf production, nuts per bunch, nut water content. When the yield of hybrids of Annur were compared with the standard check varieties viz., Keraganga (WCT x GB) and Kerasree (WCT x MYD), (101.5 and 104.25 nuts per palm per year) yield of Annur x GB and Annur x MYD were low. However, both hybrids showed nut characters similar to the respective released varieties ie, Annur x GB was similar to Keraganga and Annur x MYD showed similar nut characters with Kerasree except copra content (161.432 g and 193 g respectively). Better palms from each cross were analysed and palm numbers 1, 2, 15, 19, 20 and 28 were identified as better palms from interse of Annur. The better performing palms of hybrid, Annur x MYD were palm numbers 43, 44, 47 and 49. Three palms from Annur x GB (palm numbers 53, 55 and 56) were identified as better palms. Correlation analysis revealed significant positive genotypic correlation of nut yield per palm with all reproductive and yield characters and with most of vegetative and nut characters. Path coefficient analysis showed high positive direct effect on number of female flowers per inflorescence, number of bunches per palm per year, number of nuts per bunch, pole to pole circumference of nut, nut weight (with husk), shell and meat weight, quantity of liquid endosperm and copra content. High heritability coupled with high genetic advance was exhibited by the characters height of palm, leaf length, number of green leaves, number of inflorescences at the time of observation and number of female flowers per inflorescence. This indicates that these characters are governed by additive gene action and selection based on these characters will be effective. For both hybrids, height of the palm showed negative heterosis which indicates the dwarf nature of the hybrids. In hybrid Annur x MYD, most of nut charactersshowed heterosis over mid parent (relative heterosis) and better parent (heterobeltiosis). The standard heterosis was significant when compared with Keraganga but was not significant with Kerasree. Molecular characterization of the Annur (interse) and the hybrids from it was also attempted using Simple Sequence Repeat markers (SSR). Good quality genomic DNA is the prerequisite for any molecular work. DNA was isolated from all the parental palms as well as check cultivar Kerasree. The quality and quantity of genomic DNA obtained was verified using agarose gel electrophoresis and spectrophotometer. The quantity of DNA samples ranged from 350 to 1300 ng/μl with good quality. Screening of SSR markers for parents and check palms revealed polymorphism for the primers CAC02, CAC11, CNZ40, CnCirA9, CnCirB12, CnCirC3, CnCirC5, CnCirC7, CnCirE2, CnCirE12, CnCirF2, CnCirG11, CnCirH4 and CnCirH7. Out of 34 SSR markers, 27 were monomorphic between WCT and interse of Annur. Genetic Similarity analysis using the SSR markers revealed the high similarity between of interse palms of Annur and WCT. Dwarf palms viz. MYD and GB also showed high genetic similarity with each other. The present study revealed that the genotype Annur is a dwarf ecotype of WCT with similar nut quality and hence is a very promising genotype for breeding for dwarfness. The hybridization of ecotype Annur with MYD is found to be superior in yield characters compared to the hybridization with Gangabondam. However, both hybrids inherited the short stature from Annur and are promising. Since the yield characters needs to be stabilized, evaluation based on important vegetative and reproductive characters as well as molecular fingerprinting needs to be continued inorder to identify the full potential of these dwarf hybrids.
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    Development and performance evaluation of a solar dryer for copra
    (Department of Food and Agricultural Process Engineering, Kelappaji College of Agricultural Engineering and Technology, Tavanur, 2017) Sai Krishna, V; George Mathew
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    Economic analysis of production, marketing and price bahaviour of nutmeg in Kerala
    (Department of Agricultural Economics, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 2019) Reshama Sara Sabu; Anil Kuruvila
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    Economic analysis of production, marketing and price behavior of coconut
    (Department of Agricultural Economics, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 2017) Preethi, V P; Jesy Thomas, K
    Coconut (Cocos nucifera L.) is an important crop cultivated in Kerala which covers 39 per cent of net area sown in the state and contributes 15 per cent to the state agricultural GDP. Even though the state has the largest area under coconut cultivation, per palm productivity is very low at 42 nuts per tree. Now the state is losing its share to other competitive states like Tamil Nadu which ranks first in production. Hence the present study was carried out to analyse the trend in area, production and productivity and price behaviour of coconut in Kerala along with an understanding of production and marketing structure. Kozhikode district was selected as the study area which has the largest area under coconut cultivation in Kerala. Based on the list of farmers collected from Krishibhavans, 40 farmers were randomly selected from the two selected blocks making a total sample size of 80. The information was also collected from 25 market intermediaries including wholesalers, retailers and millers. Trend analysis was done to understand the growth pattern of coconut in terms of area, production and productivity both at national and state level from 1980-01 to 2015-16. In India, area, production and productivity of coconut showed an increasing trend. The analysis on the growth performance of coconut in India revealed that area, production and productivity of coconut had shown an increasing trend, with the exception of growth in area and production during Period I. During Period II, in spite of a higher growth in productivity, the growth rate was lower for production due to stagnant growth in area. However, the growth in area, production and productivity during the overall period under study was significant and positive. In case of Kerala, productivity-based growth of output was observed which means that the growth in production of coconut was mainly by the contribution of growth in productivity rather than in area. The price behavior of coconut and copra in major markets of Kerala viz., Alappuzha and Kozhikode were analyzed by decomposing the monthly price data into four components viz., secular trend, seasonal variation, cyclical variation and irregular variation assuming a multiplicative model of time series. The price of coconut and copra in these markets showed an increasing trend in the long run. While analysing the seasonal variation it was noticed that during the Period I (1980-01 to 1995-96), price of coconut showed wide fluctuations in both the markets but it was considerably low in Period II (1995-96 to 2015-16) whereas, the seasonal variation of copra price in both the markets showed a similar pattern. Three to four cycles were seen in both the market prices but the length of cycles was observed to be varying. Co-integration analysis of coconut prices in the above two markets were carried out and it was revealed that both the markets were integrated. In order to provide additional evidence as to whether and in which direction, price transmission was occurred Granger causality test was carried out and the results proved the existence of unidirectional causality between Kozhikode and Alappuzha market prices in the long run. Since coconut is a perennial crop, its yielding phase was assumed to be 50 years, with a non-bearing phase of 7 years. The cost and returns were estimated taking into account the establishment cost and the maintenance cost. The cost of cultivation per hectare was Rs.1,01,989 with a net return of Rs.24,011. It was noted that human labour accounted for 50 per cent of the total cost. To evaluate resource use efficiency in coconut cultivation, Cobb-Douglas production function was fitted. Manures, fertilizers and plant protection chemicals were found to be significantly contributing towards the yield. Moreover, an increasing returns to scale in coconut production was observed in the study area which implies that there is ample scope to increase the profit of farmers by proper adoption of technology and by optimal allocation of resources. Marketing plays a predominant role in agricultural development and is as important as production to any producer. Thus, an efficient marketing system can increase the level of income of producers and raise the satisfaction of consumers. Marketing of coconut needs further attention in Kerala, the land of coconut as it serves the lives for more than 80 per cent of the people in the state. The most common marketing channel identified in the study area was channel I (Producer- village trader- wholesaler- retailor- consumers). It was found that lack of storage facilities and fluctuating prices drive the producers to sell raw nuts immediately after harvesting instead of waiting for a higher price for their produce. Major constraints identified in the study area were wide fluctuations in coconut prices, high labour cost, pests and diseases attack and inadequate procurement scheme. In order to tackle these problems, it is necessary to encourage coconut farmers to replant old and senile trees by providing subsidy and ensure high production by strengthening the existing procurement scheme. Strategies emphasizing implementation of comprehensive coconut rejuvenation programmes, enhancing productivity through better technology integration and value addition through product diversification to ensure better price for farmers are suggested.