Final answer:
Bacteria that partially lyse red blood cells creating a greenish-brown zone are called alpha-hemolytic. The correct option is D.
Step-by-step explanation:
Bacteria that partially lyse red blood cells and form a greenish-brown zone around the colonies on Blood Agar Plates (BAP) are referred to as alpha-hemolytic. This type of hemolysis is characterized by the partial destruction of red blood cells, leading to the reduction of hemoglobin within the cells to methemoglobin, resulting in a greenish hue around the colonies.
This is distinct from beta-hemolysis, where a clear area surrounds the colonies due to complete lysis of red blood cells, and from gamma-hemolysis, which shows no hemolysis and no change in the agar surrounding the colonies.