Final answer:
The incorrect statement regarding Mendel's experiments is that he allowed all pea plants to self-fertilize only, as he actually performed manual cross-pollination alongside controlling self-fertilization.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that was NOT a crucial factor to the success of Gregor Mendel's experiments is A) He allowed all pea plants to self-fertilize only. This is not accurate because Mendel conducted hybridizations by manually transferring pollen from one plant to another, ensuring that the plants did not merely self-fertilize. He also actively prevented self-fertilization in some experiments by removing the anthers of the plants before they matured. Mendel's meticulous approach, which included keeping detailed records of his results, observing one or very few traits at a time, and choosing traits that were not greatly influenced by the environment, was indeed essential to his success in discovering the fundamental principles of genetics.