Kerala Agricultural University RESEARCH REPORT 2017 Edited by Dr. P. Indira Devi Kerala Agricultural University Vellanikkara, Thrissur, Kerala ACKNOWLEDGEMENT The Directorate of Research acknowledges the following persons for their wholehearted support for the preparation of this report: The Honorable Vice Chancellor, KAU for the encouragement and support. All the respective Project Coordinators of the different PC groups of KAU. Mrs. Remisha Moideen, Skilled Assistant, Directorate of Research Mrs. Jeeshma.N.S, Skilled Assistant, Directorate of Research Dr.P.Indira Devi, Director of Research Dr.K.Krishnakumary, Associate Director of Research (Planning) Dr.Asha Shankar.M, Associate Director of Research (Farms & AR&T) Dr.C.Narayanankutty, Associate Director of Research (Seeds) Dr.Madhu Subramunnian, Associate Director of Research (M&E) FOREWORD Vision and mission of the Kerala Agricultural University are Excellence in Agricultural Education, Research and Extension for Sustainable Agricultural Development and Livelihood security of farming community. Kerala Agricultural University is well poised to meet the challenges ahead that transforms agriculture sector into the engine of growth of Kerala‟s economy by providing skills and technology for the sustainable development of state‟s agriculture. Applied and adaptive research for enhancing Agriculture production and addressing the current and future challenges of farming community are the prime mandate of KAU. The University focuses on strengthening problem/location specific research relevant to the state and prevailing agro climatic and socio economic situations and help innovative extension systems for sustainable management of natural resources, enhance agricultural production and overall improvement of rural livelihoods. KAU fulfills its mandatory responsibility through research programmes implemented in 7 Colleges, 6 Regional Agricultural Research Stations and 17 Research Stations spread across the length and breadth of the State. The All India Coordinated Research projects and Network projects being implemented in KAU also have great role in the development of farmer friendly technologies. The post graduate and doctoral students at various disciplines in the University are also integral part of the research system. Technologies developed by KAU aim at enhancing productivity and sustainability in agriculture sector. The University can be proud of the fact that many of the research outputs are being widely used by farmers of the state and outside and have improved their living standards. Continuing the sincere efforts, KAU is proud to present the research report of the year 2016-17 which is a systematic compilation of the major findings of various research projects implemented in different centers to the farming community, policy makers and researchers. The efforts taken by the KAU fraternity to bring out the research accomplishments are appreciated and acknowledged. I take this opportunity to congratulate all those who have contributed to this endeavor. Dr.R.Chandra Babu Vice Chancellor PREFACE KAU is one of the prominent R&D institutes in the field of agriculture in the country and has made significant contributions in Agricultural research. The University has an approved research policy for addressing the problems of farmers and to improve the living standards of the farming community of Kerala. KAU provides human resources, skills and technologies required for sustainable development of agriculture in the State. Research activities are being undertaken to increase the productivity of crops and income of farmers through genetic improvement, improved management practices, crop protection, value addition of agricultural produce and fabrication and refinement of farm machines suitable for Kerala and various other technologies. KAU is having a network of research centers distributed in all the agro-ecological zones of Kerala. Our technologies are mostly evolved through this network centers in addition to the on-farm research with essential refinement and fine tuning. The University fulfills its mandatory functions of applied, strategies and basic research through various station projects and post graduate/doctoral research programmes. The All India Co-ordinated Research Projects and Network projects have a key role in agricultural research system in the state. The research projects in Kerala Agricultural University is mainly funded by the public sector which include Indian Council of Agricultural Research, Indian Council for Forestry Research and Education, Department of Biotechnology, Department of Science and Technology, State/National Horticulture Mission, Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana, State Planning Board, Kerala State Council for Science Technology and Environment etc. The research management in the University is done by the Directorate of Research, where the Director of Research is supported by Associate Directors of Research in five zones and in the Head Quarters. There are three faculties viz., Agriculture, Forestry and Agricultural Engineering, where the research implementation is vested with the Research Coordinator. There are 17 Project Coordination groups in Agriculture, 2 in Forestry and 3 in Agricultural Engineering. The research publications as technical reports and research papers are regularly released by the scientists. It is worth mentioning that the achievements of the University are on account of the joint efforts of the highly qualified and committed faculty with the support of the para-technical, ministerial and other categories of staff and labourers. We also thank all the funding agencies and other organizations, who supported us for effectively discharging the responsibilities. We place this publication of compilation of research projects implemented by the University during 2016-17, before the people of Kerala State. Dr.P.Indira Devi Director of Research Faculty – Agriculture Project Coordination Group - Rice (01) Project Coordinator - Dr. Reena Mathew Concluded Projects: 8 Ongoing Projects: 97 Concluded Projects 1. Molecular characterization and virulence analysis of Pyricularia grisea andXanthomonasoryzae pv oryzae, the blast and bacterial blight pathogens of rice in Kerala The objectiveof the project was to study the genotypic variability of blast and bacterial blight pathogens of rice in Kerala and also to study the pathotypic variability of these pathogens. Survey has been carried out in major rice growing areas of the state to collect the blast and bacterial blight pathogens covering 101 panchayts from seven districts, Palakkd, Thrissur, Malappuram, Alappuzha, Kottayam, Ernakulam and Wayanad. Pathogens were isolated from disease samples collected. Molecular characterization of the blast and bacterial blight pathogens of rice viz., Pyricularia grisea and Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae revealed existence of high variability of pathogens in the state of Kerala. Cluster analysis of the data clustered 302 isolates into 85 lineages at 50 per cent similarity showing high variability of Bacterial blight pathogen populaion. Pathotyping of represesntative isolates from each lineage revealed that NILs carrying single genes were susceptible to 30-85 % of the isolates tested.Pathotyping also shows 15 different reaction patterns on a set of 22 NILS carrying single genes or gene combinations in the background IRBB. All pathotypes showed susceptible or moderately susceptible reaction on Xa1, Xa3, Xa10, Xa11and Xa14. Additionally few pathotypes showed susceptible reaction on xa5, Xa7 and xa8. Pathotypes virulent on xa13, Xa21and Xa38 are also present in the current population of Xoo in Kerala. Certain pathotypes shows susceptibility to two gene combinations Xa4+xa5, Xa4+xa13, Xa4+Xa21, xa5+xa13, xa5+Xa21, xa13+xa21. Combinations such as Xa 4 + xa 13 + Xa 21, xa 5 + xa 13 + Xa 21, Xa 4 + xa 5 + xa 13 + Xa 21 are giving broad spectrum resistance. Fingerprining of 86 isolates of Pyricularia grisea was carried out. These were clustered into five different groups Some of the tested differentials containing resistance genes offered resistance to majority of the isolates of blast pathogen. Tadukan, Tetep, C101 LAC and Ramind STR-3 showed resistance reaction. This suggests the possibility of utilizing the genes, Pi-1 and Pikh for the management of blast pathogen in the state. The collection of isolates of blast and bacterial blight pathogen from different parts can be further utilised for future works aimed at resistance breeding or other approaches of management bacterial blight and blast. 2. Pest and Disease Surveillance and Management in Kole lands Fixed plot as well as rapid roving surveys was carried out. Fixed plot observation was done on pest and disease build up with respect to varying practices of nutrition, water management, weather relation and land ecosystem. A monitoring, surveillance and rapid action service unit for pest and diseases outbreaks in the kole lands was set up. Forewarning system for pest and disease outbreak in kole lands based on data on crop parameters and weather data was developed. The CSIW Officers were regularly visiting the paddy fields and reporting the conditions as well as providing technical messages to farmers to tackle any particular problem. The unscrupulous use of pesticides and fungicides and nonjudicial use of chemical fertilizers could be reduced due to their intervention in kole lands. This also enabled us for the grassroot level understanding of the constraints in kole land cultivation and to come out with management