Dr. D.K Agarwal, F.P.S.I. M.N.A.Sc. F.I.M.S., Myologist and Ex-Professor, Division of Plant Pathology, IARI, New Delhi born on Dec 13, 1945. He did M.Sc (Botany) in 1967, Ph.D (Bot.) in 1974).  He has contributed extensively on biodiversity of Fungi their characterization, maintenance and exploration particularly in the field of Hyphomycetes, Basidiomycetes (Rust & Smut fungi). He has to his credit more than 450 research publications, review and popular articles and book chapters in national and international journals of repute. He has created 9 new genera and more than 350 new species of fungi for the science from and has published 5 supplements to Fungi of India, monographic books on Trichoderma and Erysiphaceae or India and a check list of Powdery Mildew of India, each beside a compendium on Soil borne plant pathogenic fungi.  He has to his credit 12 sets of HCIO descriptions of pathogenic fungi in the form of “HCIO Plant Pathogenic Fungi”. He has authored 3 books viz., Meliolales of India, Asterinales of Southern India and Folicolous ascomyctes of Southern India.  Prof. Agarwal has guided 5 Ph.D. and 6 M.Sc. students and has served as Principal Investigator and Co-Principal Investigator in more than 5 ICAR research projects.

Prof. Agarwal is elected Fellow of reputed academic bodies and journals of repute and has served as Treasurer (1992-97) and as Secretary (2001-03) of Indian Phytopathological Society for nine years. He has been awarded Prof. M.J. Narasimlaan Merit Academic Award for the Best research work (1973) and best research paper (1992). He is member of the editorial and advisory board of several reputed journals. 

Prof. Agarwal has visited CABIMI, U.K. and received advance level training on Identification of fungi (1987) and countries like Singapore arid Malaysia, Hongkong, Bangalok and Macau etc.