The study published in the scientific journal ‘Cell’ revealed that potatoes originated from a natural hybridization between wild tomatoes and the ‘Iytoperosum’ plant in the Andes Mountains, approximately 9 million years ago. The wild tomatoes that grew in this mountainous region interbred with the ‘Iytoperosum’ plant, leading to the merging of their genetic materials and the formation of a new plant, the potato.
Professor Sanwen Huang from the Agricultural Genomics Institute in Shenzhen, China, explained that “the tomato is the mother, and Iytoperosum is the father, but the relationship between them was not clear from the start.” Researchers noted that the potato plant resembles ‘Iytoperosum’ in its above-ground appearance, but the difference becomes apparent when the plant is uprooted, as ‘Iytoperosum’ does not have tubers but rather thin underground stems.
Professor James Mallet, a professor of evolutionary biology at Harvard University, commented on the importance of the study, saying, “It is pioneering and shows how a single hybridization event can lead to the emergence of a new member or even a new type of plant.” The study explained that potatoes inherited a stable genetic composition from both ‘parents,’ granting them the ability to store energy in their tubers, resist harsh conditions like winter and drought, and reproduce without the need for seeds or pollination.
Potatoes first appeared in the Andes Mountains and were introduced to Europe in the 16th century aboard Spanish ships. Although initially met with skepticism, they quickly became a staple food due to their nutritional value and ability to grow in diverse conditions.
