Root-knot disease was first reported in the World by –

✅Explanation:
Root-knot disease, caused by the root-knot nematode (Meloidogyne spp.), was first reported in 1855 by M.J. Berkeley. He observed the disease in cucumbers grown in a greenhouse in England and named the nematode "Vibrio".

📌Other Options Explanations:
(b) Barber: C.A. Barber was a plant pathologist known for his work on sugarcane diseases.
(c) Butler: E.J. Butler was a mycologist and plant pathologist known for his contributions to the study of fungal diseases.
(d) Franklin: H.J. Franklin was an entomologist known for his work on insect pests.