Explanation

Abscisic acid (ABA) is the plant hormone that inhibits growth: it promotes seed dormancy, induces bud dormancy and causes stomatal closure under water stress. In contrast, auxins, cytokinins and gibberellins are growth-promoting hormones — auxins drive cell elongation, cytokinins promote cell division, and gibberellins stimulate stem elongation and seed germination. ABA is therefore often called the stress hormone that counteracts growth. Hence option C is correct.