Question

As scientists have developed more productive crop varieties, farmers have switched from growing many traditional varieties to new high-yield varieties. For example, in Peru, the Indians once grew 500 native varieties of potatoes. That number has been reduced to about twenty major potato varieties, worldwide.

Why is it potentially dangerous to reduce the number of crop species in potatoes?
A) It reduces the variety of crops available for human diets.
B) It requires a larger investment than small farmers can make.
C) It makes the overall crop more susceptible to pests or disease.
D) It could reduce or cause the extinction of some predatory insects.

Answer 1

The correct option is C) It makes the overall crop more susceptible to pests or disease.

Step-by-step explanation:

The reduction in genetic variation of a crop plant will cause serious threats to the particular crop population. If the genetic diversity will be low, then threats like a disease or a pest can invade the plant population as a result of which the entire population might become endangered.

Increased genetic variation ensures that some of the varieties might be able to adapt better to the changing threats as a result of which the whole of the population is at very low risk of getting erased.