Who among the following popularized the use of embryological characters in taxonomy?

Panchanan Maheshwari (1904–1966) was a distinguished Indian botanist who revolutionized the field of plant embryology. He is widely credited with popularizing the use of embryological characters in plant taxonomy [1][2]. His seminal work, 'An Introduction to the Embryology of Angiosperms' (1950), became a global standard reference, bridging the gap between embryological data and taxonomic classification [1]. Maheshwari emphasized that embryological features, such as the development of the embryo sac and endosperm, provide critical evidence for understanding evolutionary relationships and resolving taxonomic disputes [2]. While Bentham and Hooker developed a popular natural system of classification, it was primarily based on floral morphology rather than embryological data. Maheshwari's establishment of a world-renowned school of botany at the University of Delhi further cemented the role of experimental embryology in systematic botany [1].

Sources

1. [1] https://www.ias.ac.in/article/fulltext/reso/008/03/0002-0005
2. [2] https://www.cec-ugc.nic.in/webpath/curriculum/Module/LIFSC/Paper03_T/4/downloads/script.pdf