What could Mendel have concluded if he observed more than 1/16 short, dented-seeded plants in his F2 generation?

If Mendel observed more than 1/16 short, dented-seeded plants in his F2 generation, it would suggest that the traits of spherical seeds (dominant) and tall plants (dominant) are linked rather than assorting independently.

When traits assort independently, the expected phenotypic ratio in a dihybrid cross (where two traits are being observed) is typically 9:3:3:1 for the F2 generation, which translates into probabilities for specific combinations. In this scenario with independent assortment, each trait would segregate separately during gamete formation, resulting in a predictable ratio of phenotypes.

If the observed ratio deviated from this expected pattern, indicating more than 1/16 of a particular phenotype combination, it would imply that the traits are not assorting independently but are inherited together more often than expected due to their close proximity on the same chromosome. This suggests the possibility of genetic linkage, where the two traits are linked genes that tend to be inherited together more than if they assorted independently.

In short, a higher frequency of short, dented-seeded plants would point toward a link between the traits rather than independence, supporting the conclusion that the spherical seed and tall traits are genetically linked.