Prof Yashvir Singh Ahlawat, served as
Professor of Virology and Head of Plant Virology Unit at the Division of Plant
Pathology, Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), New Delhi -110012. A post graduate from Agra University (1966)
started his carrier as a post graduate teacher and then joined IARI Regional
Station at Flowerdale, Shimla (1968) and in 1972 became Assistant Virus
Pathologist at IARI, Regional station, Kalimpong and served the station as Head
for nearly a decade; joined the Division of Plant Pathology at IARI New Delhi
in 1980 and continuing here giving leadership in Plant Virology research. His
researches on virus diseases of citrus have made him an icon in the field of
citrus virology globally. He has many maiden reports to his credit but of
special mention are citrus yellow mosaic badnavirus and Indian citrus ringspot
virus, which are new discoveries in the world. Widely travelled, representing the country
both at National and International level; he was the Indian expert selected by
IBPGR to USA to prepare FAO/IBPGR technical guidelines for the safe movement of
citrus germplasm (1989). As FAO fellow he worked at university of California,
Riverside and Instituto Biologico, Sao Pauloat Brazil. He was visiting scientist at INRA, Bordeaux, France in
1991and 1994. He chaired International Meeting in Australia and China. Driving
force in organizing 12th IOCV Conference at New Delhi in 1992 which
brought India on the world map in Citrus virus research. Awarded the ICAR appreciation certificate for
conducting an excellent training course on “ Detection of Plant pathogens”
(1998) he continued the spirit and providing Hands-On training to 15 individual
scientists through the HRD project in addition to group training to 100
scientists from ICAR, SAUs, and other Govt. organization. Most honourable among his long list of awards
is the James M. and Adeline Wallace Research award (1998) by IOCV, University
of California for the outstanding research in citriculture. He is also the
recipient of Dr. H. D. Chapman award by the Indian Society on Citriculture,
1991. Member of a number of national and international professional societies
He served Indian Phytopathological Society as Jt. Secretary (1989-91) and
President, Delhi zone. (1995) Currently Vice-President ofIndian Society of Citriculture,he was also its Secretary General from
1995-1997.Recently he was consultant to the Royal Govt. of Bhutan for improving
citriculture in Bhutan (2001-2002). He has published more than 150 research papers in professional journals,
has 16 book chapters and seven books to his credit. A popular teacher among PG
students at IARI he has guided a number of students (Indian and foreign) for
their Ph. D. M.Sc. research work. As chairman of the Advisory committee he
guided 10 Ph. D including 3 international students and 2 M. Sc. students. He is
member of several scientific committees and in selection boards at various
universities, CSIR, UPSC etc.