Sentence:  Plant breeding is always a numbers game.nb.... The wild species we use are rich in genetic variation,nb.... In addition, we are looking for rare alleles, so the more plants we try, the better. These rarities may be new mutations, or they can be existing ones that are neutral—or are even selected against—in a wild population. A good example is mutations that disrupt seed dispersal, <WSD>leaving</WSD> the seeds on the heads long after they are ripe. 
Meaning of the word marked with <WSD> tags:  To cause or allow (something) to remain as available; to refrain from taking (something) away; to stop short of consuming or otherwise depleting (something) entirely.