Human Selection on Maize Size Traits. A contribution from the archaeological record of Tarapacá, chile, South Central Andes.

Summary

Maize from Andean region has a recognized complex history, involving ecological and human interaction. Today, while Andean maize show high morphological and low genotypic diversities, the process involved in its production and selection is unclear. In this work we ask how the morphological and genetic diversity of maize has varied through Formative Period to present time in Tarapacá Region, northern Chile? To answer this we analysed thirty morphological traits and eight microsatellites markers over archaeological cobs and kernels (dated circa 500 B.C to 1400 A.D) and 95 modern ears maize derived from primitive races. Our results show, at phenotypic level, significant differences between archaeological and modern cobs/kernels. In contrast, low genetic diversity between samples was found. These results are consistent with a human selection directed to increase corn size during a short period of time.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Society for American Archaeology 82nd Annual Meeting, Vancouver, BC (2017)

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Record Identifiers

Abstract Id(s): 16110