Department of Floriculture and Landscaping

Genesis

The Department of Floriculture and Landscaping was established as a statutory department of KAU by bifurcation of erstwhile Department of Pomology and Floriculture in 2016.Research, extension and teaching in flowers started in 1972 in the Department of Pomology and Floriculture, College of Horticulture

Vision/ Objective

Strengthen teaching, research and extension activities in floriculture and landscaping at Kerala Agricultural University

Mandate

The mandate of the department is to strengthen teaching, research and extension activities in floriculture and landscaping at Kerala Agricultural University.  

Facilities

Class rooms	Laboratories	Farm land	Equipment
PG/PhD   Class room	PG/ PhD lab Field lab Tissue culture lab   Additional facilities Seed store	Open field -3.5 ha Polyhouses (40 Nos)	·      Hot air oven (1), ·      Digital balance (3), ·      Distillation unit (1), ·      Lux meter  (1), ·      Microscope (Halogen illumination) – (1) ·      Thermohygrometer (2), ·      Clevenger apparatus (1), ·      Refrigerator (4) ·       Microwave oven (1), ·       Power sprayer (2) ·       Autoclave (1), ·      Muffle furnace – (1) ·      UV/Vis spectrophotometer – (1) ·      Flame photometer - (1) ·       Laminar Air Flow Cabinet (2), ·      Refractometer-(1) ·      Moisture analyser -(1) ·      Hot plate-(1) ·      Heating mantle-(1) ·      Induction cooker-(1) ·      Centrifuge- (1) ·      Vernier Caliper- (1) ·      Walk-in cold chamber (1) ·      LCD projector -  (1)

 

Faculty strength:

Department of Floriculture and Landscaping

Sl.No	Name	Designation
1	Dr. Mini Sankar	Asst. Professor and Head
2	Dr.Shajma Nafeesa Basheer	Asst. Professor

 

Sl. No.	Name	Designation
1	Dr.Mini sankar	Asst. Professor and Head
2	Smt. Sheron Fernandez	Asst. Professor
3	Smt. Simmy A,M	Asst. Professor

 The Department also holds the AICRP on Floriculture with the following faculty;

 

Achievements /Major Accomplishments

Ø  NBPGR germplasm  registration  for two bacterial wilt resistant marigold accessions M1 and M2

Ø  Obtained IC number for

•        13 native ornamentals

•       4 native orchids

•       3 marigold accessions

•       7 ocimum accessions

Ø  Standardised soilless medium for indoor gardening and export - got approval for including in KAU POP

•       Cocopeat  (50%) + Vermicompost (20%) + Perlite (15%) + Vermiculite (15%)

Ø  Standardised alternate growing medium for nursery production of aglaonema and spathyphyllum

•       Cocopeat (70%) + Rice husk(10%) + Organic manure (10%) + Sand (10%) – Alternate potting medium for growing aglaonema

•       Cocopeat (50%) + Biochar (25%) + Organic manure (15%)  + Sand (10%) for growing spathyphillum

Ø  Standardised the technology for induction of off season flowering in jasmine

•       October pruning followed by the application of cycocel 1500, 15 days after prunig for offseason flowering of Jasminum sambac

Ø  Exacum bicolor, Pogostemon quadrifolius and Melastoma malabathricum entered for multilocation trials in various AICRP centres throughout India

Ø  Lotus - KAU L – 5 double petal type entered for multilocation trials in various AICRP centres throughout India 

Ø  Inter specific hybrids and species of Ornamental banana identified for

·       Pot plant purpose : Musa ornata, Musa rubra, OZ-R2-6, RZ-R2-89, OR-R1-73, OR-R1-61, OR-SR5-6 and OR-SR2-9

·       Landscaping : Musa ornata, Musa rubra, OZ-R2-6, RZ-R2-89, OR-R1-73, OR-R1-61, OR-SR5-6 , OR-SR2-9 and RZ-R2-57

·        Cut foliage : RZ-R2-57,  RZ-R2-89,  RZ-R2-91

Ø  Procedures standardised at the Department of Floriculture and Landscaping  and   submitted to Director of Research, KAU for TOT

•       Procedure for hibiscus flower syrup (Hibiscus rosasinensis) preparation

Procedure for hibiscus preserve

Academics:

PG courses ( changes ) upto 2021-22

 

Catalogue No.	Course title	Credits
FLA 501	Breeding of Flower crops and Ornamental plants	2+1
FLA 502	Production technology of cut flowers	2+1
FLA 503	Production technology of loose flowers	2+1
FLA 504	Landscaping and ornamental gardening	2+1
FLA 505	Protected floriculture	2+1
FLA 506	Value addition of flowers	2+1
FLA 507	Turf and turf management	2+1
FLA 508	CAD for outdoor and indoorscaping	2+1

P.G. courses (from 2022-23)

 

Ph.D courses

 

Extension services:

 

Trainings conducted during 2021-22

 

     1.         Introduction to landscaping & features of a garden

     2.         Styles of gardening

     3.         Cultivation of orchids

     4.         Cultivation of Anthuriums

     5.         Cultivation of seasonal flowers

     6.         Indoor gardening 2 Nos

     7.         Pookrishi –azhakinum adayathinum

     8.         Pookrishi

     9.         Webinar on Indigenous plants

  10.         Webinar on Aquascaping

  11.         Value addition of flowers

  12.         Jasmine cultivation

  13.         Value addition in commercial flower crops

  14.         Indoor gardening

  15.         Floriculture

 16.         Flower arrangement

 

Trainings conducted during 2022-2023

 

     1.         On the job training on gardener

     2.         On the job training on floriculturist -open cultivation

     3.         Plant propagation

     4.         Entrepreneurship opportunities in floriculture

     5.         Indoor gardening

     6.         Landscape & ornamental gardening

     7.         Landscape & ornamental gardening

     8.         Farm Business School

     9.         Cultivation of flowers

  10.         Eclological engineering using flower crops

  11.         Cultivation of Cut foliage & tropical flowers

  12.         Cultivation of flowers for Onam season

  13.         Commercial floriculture

  14.         Onathinu Pookrishi

  15.         Marigold cultivation

 

Trainings conducted during 2023-24

 

    1.         Commercial Floriculture

    2.         Onathinnu Pookrishi – 3 trainings

    3.         Marigold cultivation

    4.         Commercial Floriculture

     5.         Landscaping and Gardening

     6.         Floriculture on markets

     7.         Landscaping and Gardening

     8.         Cut flowers, foliage &value addition

     9.         Stakeholders of Florivillage program-Karapuram Vision 2026

  10.         Development of flowers2023-24,Project wetting

 11.         On The Job Training – GVHSS, Pudukkad (Floriculturist course)

  12.         Ernakulam & Thrissur district farmers-Training on indoor plants & indoor gardening

  13.         Kottayam & Idukki district farmers-Potential floriculture

  14.         On The Job Training – GGVHSS, Nenmara (Gardener course)

  15.         Cultivation, Propagation and post harvest aspects of important flowering plants" for VHSC - OJT students

  16.         Flower nursery establishment & management

  17.         On The Job Training – GVHSS, Pudur (Floriculturist course)

  18.         Post harvest management of cut flowers and dry flower production

  19.         Propagation of important flower crops and their post harvest management-OJT students

  20.         State level Evaluator of Young Innovator Award of KDISC

  21.         Potential for cut  foliage cultivation

Training, seminars and other services (attended) – 2021-22

 

Name  of  Scientist	Name of Seminar/ Workshop/ Symposium	National/ International/ State level/ District/ Panchayat level (organised by)	Venue	Date
Dr. Sreelatha U	Webinar on Hi-tech farming – Protected cultivation of flowers	National	Online	22/04/2021
Dr. Sreelatha U Dr. Mini sankar	Webinar on Role of ornamental plants for conservation of pollinators	National	Online	20/05/2021
Dr. U.Sreelatha Dr. Mini Sankar Dr.Anupama T V	Webinar on Value addition: opportunities and challenges in Floriculture	National	Online	24/07/2021
Ms. Simmy A.M	Training on Conservation, Management & Utilisation of Genetic Resources for livelihood and nutritional security	National	Online	22/11/2021 to 26/11/2021
Dr. Sreelatha U	ZREAC for High range zone	State	Online	28/12/2021
Dr. Mini Sankar	Post harvest management and storage techniques	National	Online	24/9/2021 to 28/09/2021
Dr. U.Sreelatha Dr. Mini Sankar Ms. Simmy A.M	Germpalsm Registration in Horticultural crops	,,	,,	01/10/2021
Dr. Mini sankar	Plant protection under protected cultivation	,,	,,	04/10/2021 to 08/10/2021
Dr. U.Sreelatha Dr. Mini Sankar Ms. Simmy A.M	30th AGM of AICRP on Floriculture	national	online	12/01/2022 to 14/01/2022

 

Training, seminars and other services (attended) – 2022-23

 

Name  of  Scientist	Name of Seminar/ Workshop/ Symposium	Venue	Date
Sheron Fernandez	Training on Research Publishing - Plagiarism	Central Library, KAU	05/11/2022
Simmy A.M	Foundation course on Research, Education &bextension management	CTI, KAU	21/11/22 to 26/11/22
Sheron Fernandez	Hands-on Training in CERA	Central Library, KAU	29/11/22
Simmy A.M	National symposium on Horticultural Crops of Humid Tropics for Nutritional and Live Security (02-03 December, Madikeri	Madikeri	02/12/22 to 03/12/22
Dr.U.Sreelatha Ms. Sheron Fernandez Ms. Simmy A.M	31st AGM of AICRP on Floriculture	Online	18/1/23 to 20/1/023
Ms. Sheron Fernandez	Training on “Protect your Interventions -Roadmap to patenting”	CTI, KAU	01/02/23
Dr.U.Sreelatha Ms. Sheron Fernandez	National conference cum workshop on multidisciplinary approaches in studies, conservation and resource development of medicinal and ornamental orchids and orchid show	Punjab University	03/03/23 to 05/03/23
Dr.U.Sreelatha Ms. Simmy A.M	44th ZREAC meeting	RARS Pattambi	15/03/23

 

Training, seminars and other services (attended)  – 2023-24

 

Name  of  Scientist	Name of Seminar/ Workshop/ Symposium	National/ International/ State level/ District/ Panchayat level (organised by)	Venue	Date
Ms. Simmy A. M Ms.Sheron Fernandez	Training on data analysis with “R”	National, Centre for e – learning, KAU	Online	07/08/23 to 11/08/23
Ms. Simmy A. M	Training on AMS and BCP	State, NAHEP, ICAR	Agri Diksha hall, CoA, Vellanikkara	18/09/23 & 19/09/23
Ms. Simmy A. M Ms.Sheron Fernandez	XVI Agricultural Science Congress, Kochi	National Academy of Agricultural Sciences & CMFRI	Le Meridian Kochi	10/1023 to 13/10/23
Dr.Mini Sankar Ms.Sheron Fernandez Ms. Simmy A. M	International Seminar on exotic and underutilized horticultural crops: Priorities & emerging trends	International, ICAR – IIHR, Bengaluru	ICAR -IIHR, Bengaluru	16/10/23 to 19/10/23
Ms.Sheron Fernandez	National workshop on Farmer Producer Companies in India:Profile & Potential	National, KAU,NAHEP-CAAST, Vellanikkara	KAU ,HQ Vellanikkara	01/12/2023 02/12/2023

 

Ongoing Projects

 

Sl No	Project	Principal Investigator	Financial outlay Rs.lakhs	Funding Agency
1	All India Co-ordinated Research Project on Floriculture	Dr. Mini Sankar	52.10 lakhs	ICAR
2	Strengthening research in flower crops for commercial exploitation	Dr. Mini Sankar	2.00 lakhs	State Plan
3	Network project on “Screening of selected ornamental flowers for pigments”	Dr. Shajma Nafeesa Basheer	1.25 lakh	State Plan
4	Network project on “Standardization of production technology, postharvest management, documentation and management of pests and diseases of selected cut foliage under different growing systems”	Dr. Mini Sankar	0.50 lakhs	State Plan
5	Network project on “Performance evaluation of accessions of rose (Rosa spp.) for cultivation under hill zones and plains of Kerala”	Dr. Mini Sankar	1 lakh	State Plan
6	Network project on “Development of novel hybrids and rapid multiplication through micropropagation”	Dr. Resmi Paul	1 lakh	State Plan
7	”Identification, creation of database, propagation conservation and value addition of wild and underutilized edible flower varieties of Kerala”	Sheron Fernandez	4.29 lakhs	KSBB
8	KAU RF “Flower seeds and ornamental plants”	Dr. Mini Sankar		KAU RF

 

Completed Projects

 

Sl. No. (contd..)	Project	Principal Investigator	Financial outlay Rs.lakhs	Funding Agency
12	“Strengthening production of quality planting materials”	Dr. Sreelatha U	1,00,000/-	KAU, Plan
13	State plan 2020-21 “Strengthening research in flower crops for commercial exploitation”	Dr. Sreelatha U	5,00,000/-	KAU Plan
14	State plan 2021-22 “Strengthening research in flower crops for commercial exploitation”	Dr. Sreelatha U	8,00,000/-	KAU Plan

 

Placement details

No of students placed in govt. and  private organization : 7

 

Student’s achievements

 

Number of students pursuing Ph. D with SRF                 : 1

 

Chaitra K                                                        : Vigyan Varta Outstanding Achiever

                                                                           Award 2022

                                                                           The Best MSc thesis award

Services:

Landscaping consultancy services