Question

Who is called the 'father of Indian plant physiology?
A. J. C. Bose
B. Calvin
C. R. Mishra
D. K. K. Nanda

Answer 1

Hint: Plant physiology is a subdivision of botany (the study of plants), mainly dealing with the functioning of the physiology of plants. It includes plant ecology, morphology, phytochemistry, cell biology, plant genetics, biophysics, and molecular biology.

Complete step by step answer:
The Indian Agricultural Research Institute was established in 1905 where the groundwork of Indian plant physiology began. Many botanists, mycologists, bacteriologists have since contributed to the development of plant science based on Indian fauna.
Analysis of all the options:
A. Jagdish Chandra Bose made significant contributions to plant science and laid the foundation of experimental science in India. He had made pioneering discoveries in the field of plant science. Most of his studies were on Mimosa pudica and Desmodium gyrans. Bose demonstrated the electrical nature of conduction of various stimuli in plants which were originally considered of chemical nature. He was the first to study the effect of microwaves in plants and the alterations it causes in the cell membrane potential. He researched the effect of chemical inhibitors, seasons, and temperature on plants. Since most of his works were limited to the fauna of the Indian subcontinent, he is known as the 'Father of Indian plant physiology'.
B. Melvin Calvin was the famous biophysicist who won a Nobel prize for his discovery of the chemical pathways of photosynthesis. He formulated the Calvin cycle by using radioactive carbon in Chlorella pyrenoidosa, algae.
C. R. Mishra, an Indian scientist who worked on developing the nature of gene control in altered phenotypes of rice (Oryza sativa).
D. K. K. Nanda mainly contributed to the study of plant morphology and plant hormonal controls.
Hence the correct answer is option A.

Note: J. C. Bose developed a device called the crescograph to discern the chemistry behind plant growth.