The potato, that tuber ubiquitous in our kitchens, is the fruit of a chance event that occurred millions of years ago in the Andean mountains. Thanks to recent scientific advances, a group of researchers has elucidated the origin of this essential plant. The study of DNA from a variety of plants has allowed scientists to trace the complex history of the potato, revealing that it is not the product of linear evolution, but of an improbable hybridization between different plant species. This discovery marks a significant step forward in our understanding of plant evolution.
An Evolutionary Enigma Finally Resolved
For decades, botanists have pondered the links among tomatoes, potatoes, and a mysterious group of plants known as Etuberosum. Although all belong to the nightshade family, their relationships remained unclear. The team led by Sandra Knapp, from the Natural History Museum in London, used advanced genomic technologies to analyze the DNA of 128 specimens representing these lineages. It turned out that the modern potato is the product of hybridization between the ancestors of wild tomatoes and those of Etuberosum, rather than a species that evolved in isolation.
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A Miraculous Hybridization in the Primitive Andes
About 8 to 9 million years ago, the Andean cordillera underwent major geological transformations. It was within this changing environment that two distinct plant species crossed paths. Although they had diverged from a common ancestor millions of years earlier, they retained enough genetic compatibility to reproduce. Thus, a single hybrid emerged: the ancestor of modern potatoes. Genomic analysis revealed this intricate kinship in mosaic patterns, reflecting the intermingling of the genetic legacies of its parents.
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The Breakthrough That Changed Everything: The Tuber
The hybridization brought forth a novel trait: the formation of tubers. Unlike tomatoes and Etuberosum, the new plant could develop these underground, nutrient-rich organs. Researchers identified the genes responsible for this phenomenon. The SP6A gene, derived from tomatoes, was modified in the potato to regulate the tuberization process. The IT1 gene, originating from Etuberosum, also contributes to the creation of these crucial stores. This innovation proved instrumental in the expansion of the potato.
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