Step 1: Understanding the Question:
The question asks to match fundamental concepts in plant physiology and agronomy with the scientists who first described or significantly advanced them.
Detailed Explanation:
• Vernalization (A - III):
Vernalization is the induction of a plant's flowering process by exposure to the prolonged cold of winter.
The term was coined by the Soviet scientist T.D. Lysenko in 1928. He worked extensively on the physiological changes in winter wheat during cold treatment.
• Photoperiodism (B - IV):
Photoperiodism is the physiological reaction of organisms to the length of night or a dark period.
It was discovered by W.W. Garner and H.A. Allard in 1920 through their experiments on "Maryland Mammoth" tobacco, where they found that flowering was triggered by day length.
• Hydroponics (C - II):
Hydroponics is the technique of growing plants in nutrient solutions without soil.
While the concept was older, the term "Hydroponics" was coined by W.F. Gericke of the University of California in 1937, who demonstrated the commercial potential of soil-less culture.
• Abscission (D - I):
Abscission is the shedding of various parts of an organism, such as a plant dropping a leaf, fruit, or flower.
F.T. Addicott was a leading researcher in plant physiology who specialized in the study of abscission and was instrumental in the discovery of Abscisic Acid (ABA), originally called abscisin II.
Step 2: Final Answer:
Matching the pairs: A matches III, B matches IV, C matches II, and D matches I. This corresponds to sequence (D).