Question

Identify the scientist(s) who gave the term "Hydroponics" for growing of plants in water culture

• A. Yabuta and Sumuka
• B. Gericke
• C. Lang and Melchers
• D. Borthwick and Hendris

Hint:

To remember:
- Sachs & Knop $\rightarrow$ Developed laboratory water culture (Nutrient Solution).
- Gericke $\rightarrow$ Coined the term "Hydroponics" and demonstrated its commercial potential.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is B

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
Hydroponics is the technique of growing plants in water solvent containing dissolved inorganic nutrients, without using soil.
While growing plants in liquid nutrient solutions was developed in laboratory research in the $19^{\text{th}}$ century, a specific scientist coined the commercial term for this technique.

Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
Let us review the historical contributions of the listed scientists:
Yabuta and Sumiki (spelled as "Sumuka" in the question paper) are famous for isolating and naming gibberellic acid (gibberellin) from the fungus *Gibberella fujikuroi* in 1938, which matches Option (A).
Julius von Sachs and Wilhelm Knop developed the first standardized nutrient solution formulas in 1960 for laboratory water culture studies.
In 1937, Dr. William Frederick Gericke of the University of California, Berkeley, adapted these laboratory techniques for commercial crop production.
He coined the term "Hydroponics" to describe this soil-less cultivation of plants.
The word is derived from the Greek words *hydor* (water) and *ponos* (labor), translating literally to "water-working."
Gericke demonstrated the potential of the system by growing massive tomato vines up to $7.6\text{ meters}$ tall in liquid nutrient basins.

Step 3: Final Answer:
The term "Hydroponics" was coined by Gericke.
This corresponds to Option (B).