The ability of a cell to generate into a whole plant is known as

The ability of a cell to generate into a whole plant is known as Totipotency.
Totipotency is defined as the ability of a single cell to divide and produce all the differentiated cells in an organism, including extraembryonic tissues. Totipotent cells formed during sexual and asexual reproduction include spores and zygotes.
Gottlieb Haberlandt discovered totipotency. He is known as the father of plant tissue culture.
Totipotency plays an important role in tissue culture as a single can be cultured to form the complete organism.