The Ancient Hybridization Event that Led to the Creation of Modern-Day Potatoes Revealed
The potato, a staple food in countless households worldwide, has long been an enigma for scientists. Despite its ubiquity and popularity, the genetic origins of this humble tuber have remained a mystery.
Botanist Sandy Knapp from the Natural History Museum in London explains, “We didn’t know where the whole potato lineage came from.” The genetic makeup of potatoes suggests they are closely related to two distinct groups: tomatoes and Etuberosum, a cluster of three species that boast beautiful purple flowers. However, the relationship between potatoes and these groups has been unclear due to conflicting gene data.
This confusion is significant because it hindered efforts to trace the potato’s family tree accurately. Knapp points out, “When something doesn’t quite fall out right, that’s where the exciting biology is.”
In a recent study published in Cell, Knapp and her colleagues propose an explanation for this conundrum: an ancient interbreeding event between the ancestors of tomatoes and Etuberosum gave rise to the potato lineage. This hybridization occurred approximately 9 million years ago – ideal timing as it coincided with the formation of the Andes, creating new high-elevation habitats perfect for potatoes to thrive.
Tomatoes and Etuberosum lack the ability to produce tubers; however, the newly formed potato lineage inherited genes from both that enabled tuberization. Knapp explains, “Tuberization is a complex trait controlled by multiple genes that the potato inherited.”
The researchers’ findings could have significant implications for future potato breeding efforts. They suggest that using the genetics of tomatoes or Etuberosum may help develop potatoes capable of producing seeds, providing potential resistance to diseases and climate change challenges.
Knapp highlights, “The tomato can be the future of the potato.” This breakthrough in understanding the potato’s genetic origins sheds light on one of humanity’s favorite foods and opens doors for future improvements in its cultivation.