Dr. V.P. Agnihotri was born on June 20, 1937 at Hardoi in Uttar Pradesh. He had his early schooling at Hardwar and Nagina and obtained his B.Sc. (1956), M.Sc. (1958) and D.Phil (1962) degrees from the Allahabad University. Dr. Agnihotri did his research work for M.Sc thesis under the active leadership of Prof. R.N. Tandon on "Colletotrichum leaf spot of Pothos scandens (money plant)." For D. Phil degree, he worked under the inspiring guidance of Prof. Mehrotra on "Ecology, Taxonomy and Physiology of Aspergilli." Dr. Agnihotri was awarded Empress Victoria Readership during the tenure of his D. Phil degree. 

Dr. Agnihotri started his professional career as Assistant Professor at the G.B. Pant University of Agriculture & Technology, Pantnagar and worked only for six months (July 1963 to Dec. 1963). Thereafter, he joined the Indian Institute of Sugarcane Research, Lucknow as a Junior Class-I officer. While at the Institute, he received an attractive offer from the Botany Department, Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama, USA and joined the University as an Assistant Professor (Research) and worked on aflatoxins with Prof. U.L. Diener and Dr. N.D. Davis from July 1964 - Oct. 1965. He conclusively demonstrated that zinc is essential for the production of aflatoxins, both B1 and G1. Thereafter, he joined the Canada Deptt. of Forestry on the 15th of October and continued work up to March 1970. In Canada, he worked with Dr. O. Vaartaja, a world renowned authority on Pythia. 

Taxo-ecological and physiological work on Pythia brought him international recognition. His work on Pythia is extensively referred to in the international monograph on the genus Pythium by Plaats-Niterink (1981) and in the book - Sugarcane improvement through breeding by Don J. Heinz (1987). 

In 1971, Dr. Agnihotri again joined the Indian Institute of Sugarcane Research, Lucknow as Sugarcane Mycologist. At the Institute he worked as Scientist S-2, Scientist S-3 and as Principal Scientist. While working as Principal Scientist he was appointed Director (1990-1991). 

At the Indian Institute of Sugarcane Research, Lucknow, Dr. Agnihotri worked for about 26 years on all the three sugar crops, namely, sugarcane, sugarbeet and sweet sorghum, but his major thrust was on first two sugar crops. From 1971-1997, he worked on all four major diseases of sugarcane, viz., red rot, smut, wilt and leaf scald with emphasis on epidemiology and management of diseases. He developed an effective integrated disease management system for controlling sett borne diseases of sugarcane. 

Dr. Agnihotri's contributions have been extensively referred to in both text and reference books, monographs, bulletins, and several review articles dealing with mycology, plant pathology, taxonomy and microbiology. His original contributions brought instant name and fame to the Institute. 

Dr. Agnihotri has published 160 research papers in 45 journals (25 foreign and 20 national journals). Besides he contributed about 35 review articles for books published from India, Canada, France, Germany and USA. Dr. Agnihotri also wrote 5 books, namely, Diseases of Sugarcane and Sugarbeet, Sugarcane Ratoons, The Lump Sugar - Gur, Sugarcane Ripening and its Management for Improving Sugar Production and Ganne our Chukandar ke rog. His book on Diseases of Sugarcane and Sugarbeet, now in second edition, is very popular in South Asia and South East Asia. He also edited seven books, namely, Advances in Plant Pathology, Progress in Microbial Ecology, Perspective in Mycology and Plant Pathology, Perspective in Phytopathology, Current Trends in Sugarcane Pathology, Disease Scenario in Plant Crops and Management of Threatening Diseases of National Importance. Besides books, Dr. Agnihotri is also co-author of three bulletins, namely, Biochemical Aspects of Sugarcane Diseases, Sugarcane Cultivation, and Ganne evam Chukander ki Pragatisheel Kheti. The last named bulletin is very popular among enlightened farmers. His lasting scientific contributions and books have been responsible for putting the Institute on the International map of sugarcane. 

Dr. Agnihotri visited several phytopathological research laboratories in the USA, Canada, United Kingdom, France, Germany and Italy and has also participated in several conferences, seminars and symposia. He also travelled extensively in India to advice sugarcane growers on sugarcane and sugarbeet diseases and also as an examiner of 26 Agricultural and Traditional Universities in India. 

For his notable contributions in the field of Plant Pathology, Dr. Agnihotri was awarded gold medal and cash for delivering Professor M.S. Pavgi lecture at Bhavnagar in Gujarat. In 1995, he was unanimously elected President of the Indian Phytopathological Society. 

Dr. Agnihotri superannuated from active service on June 30, 1997.