Question

Given below are two statements: 
• [Statement (I):] Anton de Bary's experiment paved the way for the modern-day plant pathology experiments. 
• [Statement (II):] Anton de Bary was a medical doctor.
 In light of the above statements, choose the most appropriate answer from the options given below. 
 

• A. Both Statement (I) and Statement (II) are correct.
• B. Both Statement (I) and Statement (II) are incorrect.
• C. Statement (I) is correct but Statement (II) is incorrect.
• D. Statement (I) is incorrect but Statement (II) is correct.

Hint:

Remember: Anton de Bary is the Father of Modern Plant Pathology.
He also coined the term "symbiosis" in 1879 to describe the living together of unlike organisms.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
Heinrich Anton de Bary was a German botanist, microbiologist, and mycologist.
He is widely recognized as the "Father of Modern Mycology" and the "Father of Modern Plant Pathology" for his contributions to the study of plant diseases.

Step 3: Detailed Explanation:
Let us evaluate both statements:
- Statement (I) is correct: In the mid-19th century, Anton de Bary conducted experiments on late blight of potato, which caused the Irish Potato Famine.
He proved that the oomycete Phytophthora infestans was the cause of the disease, rather than a byproduct of tissue decay.
This experiment disproved the theory of spontaneous generation for plant diseases and established the germ theory of disease for plants, laying the foundation for modern plant pathology.
- Statement (II) is correct: Anton de Bary studied medicine at Heidelberg, Marburg, and Berlin.
He received his medical degree (M.D.) from Berlin in 1853.
Although he was trained as a medical doctor, he pursued his passion for botany and mycology, spent his career as a botany professor, and made his most famous discoveries in plant biology.
Therefore, both statements are correct.

Step 4: Final Answer:
Both Statement (I) and Statement (II) are correct, matching Option (A).