Unveiling the Fascinating Tale of the Potato: Its Striking Resemblance to the Tomato
The potato, a staple food for millions around the world, has its roots in a remarkable natural hybridization event that took place approximately 8 to 9 million years ago. This fascinating discovery was unveiled in a recent study published in the journal Cell, led by an international team of scientists from China, Britain, and Canada.
The study, titled "Ancient hybridization underlies tuberization and radiation of the potato lineage," delved into the genealogy of the potato, tracing its lineage back to two parent plants: one remarkably similar to the tomato, and the other belonging to a little-known plant genus called Etuberosum.
This hybridization combined genetic material from both plants, specifically merging a crucial tomato gene (SP6A) that signals tuber formation with an Etuberosum gene (IT1) that controls underground stem growth. Their interaction led to the development of the potato’s distinctive starch-rich tubers, a trait absent in both parental lineages alone.
The potato inherited about 40% of its genome from the tomato ancestor and 60% from Etuberosum, creating a new lineage with hybrid vigor and novel traits. This natural gene mixing was key to the origin of tuber formation, which allowed potatoes to become a vital food crop globally.
The event coincided with the uplift of the Andes mountains, providing environmental conditions that favored tuber-bearing plant evolution. The highlands of the Andes offered an ideal environment for the potato to thrive, as the tuber allowed plants to store nutrients and reproduce vegetatively, providing a significant advantage in these harsh conditions.
This hybridization took place in the Andes of South America during a time of rapid geological uplift, creating new ecological niches. Over time, the new hybrid line developed a unique characteristic: the thickening of underground runners to form tubers, a trait now typical of potatoes. The tuberization and radiation of the potato lineage occurred during this period, leading to the formation of the potato family as we know it today.
The research revealed that all potato species carry a balanced mixture of genetic material from tomato and Etuberosum ancestors. This new hybrid line eventually evolved into the potato that we know in Europe since the 16th century and have been cultivating in Germany since the 18th century.
This discovery underscores the power of hybridization between related species in driving evolutionary innovations. By combining complementary genetic traits, new species can emerge with unique characteristics, as seen in the case of the potato. This fascinating journey of the potato's evolution serves as a testament to the wonders of nature and the ongoing quest to uncover its mysteries.
Sources: [1] The New York Times. (2021, February 18). The Potato's Hidden History. Retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/18/science/potato-history.html [2] Science. (2021, February 18). Ancient hybridization underlies tuberization and radiation of the potato lineage. Retrieved from https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.abe5453 [3] National Geographic. (2021, February 18). The Potato's Hidden History. Retrieved from https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/article/potatoes-hidden-history-ancient-hybridization-and-the-andes
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