COHEN, YIGAL RAHAMIM

COHEN, YIGAL RAHAMIM (1940– ), Israeli plant pathologist. Cohen was born in Jerusalem and received his Ph.D. in agriculture from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot (1969). He joined Bar-Ilan University as a lecturer in plant pathology (1969) and was a full professor from 1980. His research discoveries concern the epidemiology of plant diseases, genetic resistance to disease and their prevention by immunization, genetic selection, and pesticides and other agents. His work has important practical implications, including collaboration with seed-producing companies, and has led to the development of tomato and potato strains genetically resistant to the potentially devastating infection by the fungus Phytophthora infestans and muskmelon lines resistant to other fungi. He was also the first to show that certain amino acids and polyunsaturated fatty acids induce resistance against late blight. His contributions were recognized internationally and in 2004 he was among the world's 250 most cited researchers. His honors include the Israel Prize for agriculture (1999). At Bar-Ilan University he served as dean of the Faculty of Natural Sciences (1977–80), member of the Senate, and member of the Board of Trustees. He was also president of the Israel Phytopathological Society. (Michael Denman (2nd ed.)