In the history of plant science, which scientist is widely credited with initiating the systematic work that led to the concept of plant tissue culture?

Introduction / Context:
This question belongs to the field of botany and specifically to the development of plant tissue culture techniques. Plant tissue culture is a method in which small pieces of plant tissue or even single cells are grown in an artificial nutrient medium under sterile conditions. Modern applications include micropropagation, genetic transformation, and conservation of rare species. Examinations often ask about the pioneering scientist who first proposed and initiated work on the concept that individual plant cells could be cultured and might show totipotency.

Given Data / Assumptions:
The question lists four scientists associated with plant tissue culture and related research:
- F. C. Steward
- P. Maheshwari
- P. R. White
- Haberlandt
The learner must select the scientist acknowledged as the earliest pioneer who first attempted to culture isolated plant cells and laid the foundation for later tissue culture work. It is assumed that the student has encountered this fact in standard botany textbooks where the title father of plant tissue culture is discussed.

Concept / Approach:
Gottlieb Haberlandt, an Austrian botanist, is widely regarded as the father of plant tissue culture. In the early twentieth century, he proposed that isolated plant cells might be grown in nutrient solutions and could express their potential to form complete plants, a property now known as totipotency. Although his experiments did not fully succeed due to limitations in techniques and media, his ideas inspired later work. F. C. Steward performed successful experiments with carrot phloem tissue, P. R. White developed nutrient media, and P. Maheshwari contributed greatly to plant embryology and tissue culture in India. However, the specific recognition for initiating the concept is given to Haberlandt.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that the phrase father of plant tissue culture is associated with the scientist who first proposed and attempted culture of isolated plant cells. Step 2: Identify Gottlieb Haberlandt as the botanist who, in the early twentieth century, suggested that individual plant cells have the potential to grow into whole plants in nutrient solutions. Step 3: Recognise that later scientists such as F. C. Steward and P. R. White refined the techniques by providing better media and demonstrating totipotency more convincingly. Step 4: Compare these contributions with the names given in the options and match the earliest conceptual pioneer with the description in the question. Step 5: Conclude that Haberlandt is the correct choice as the scientist credited with starting systematic work on plant tissue culture.

Verification / Alternative check:
Many botany reference books and exam oriented guides explicitly state that Haberlandt is called the father of plant tissue culture because he first attempted to culture isolated plant cells in vitro and emphasised their totipotent nature. By contrast, F. C. Steward is often cited for demonstrating totipotency in carrot tissues, and P. R. White is remembered for his nutrient solutions and techniques. P. Maheshwari is celebrated for contributions to plant embryology and tissue culture in the Indian context but not as the original pioneer. When multiple sources consistently attribute the conceptual beginning to Haberlandt, this serves as strong verification that he is the correct answer.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
F. C. Steward: Made important experimental contributions by producing complete plants from carrot tissue, but he worked after Haberlandt and built upon the earlier conceptual framework.
P. Maheshwari: A prominent Indian botanist who contributed to embryology and tissue culture research, but he is not credited with initiating the field globally.
P. R. White: Known for developing nutrient solutions and techniques that supported tissue culture, yet the first conceptual attempt is linked to Haberlandt.

Common Pitfalls:
A frequent mistake is to choose F. C. Steward because learners remember his successful regeneration experiments more clearly than Haberlandt's early, less successful attempts. Another pitfall is mixing up the roles of scientists who refined techniques with the one who first proposed the idea. To avoid confusion, remember that the title father of plant tissue culture is about the conceptual beginning rather than only about later technical success, and that title is given to Haberlandt.

Final Answer:
The scientist widely credited with initiating systematic work on plant tissue culture is Haberlandt.