The geneticist known for his studies on plant hybridization in the 19th century is Gregor Mendel. Often referred to as the father of modern genetics, Mendel conducted meticulous experiments on pea plants between 1856 and 1863, which led to the formulation of key principles governing heredity. By observing how traits were passed from one generation to the next, Mendel established foundational laws of inheritance, including the concepts of dominant and recessive traits. His work, published in 1866 but largely unrecognized during his lifetime, was rediscovered in the early 20th century, significantly informing our understanding of genetics and heredity.