Which evolutionary consequence occurs in maize crops after generations of artificial selection favoring larger kernels during the preindustrial period?

💡 Explanation

Artifical selection creates genetic bottlenecks. Selection favors larger kernels, decreasing the allelic diversity via genetic hitchhiking (a consequence of physical proximity) because selection acts directly on linked genes. Therefore, genetic diversity lowers, rather than germination or photosynthesis, functions unrelated direct kernel formation.

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