How Potatoes Evolved
18 days ago
- #plant-genetics
- #agricultural-science
- #potato-origin
- Potatoes originated from an ancient hybridization event nine million years ago between ancestors of tomato plants and the Etuberosum group.
- This hybridization event enabled potatoes to develop underground tubers, leading to the diversification into over 100 known species today.
- Specific genes from each parent species (tomato and Etuberosum) were crucial for tuber formation, such as SP6A from tomatoes and IT1 from Etuberosum.
- The rise of the Andes mountains around the same time provided new environments that facilitated the rapid diversification of potato species.
- Potatoes are tetraploid, having four copies of each chromosome, making breeding new varieties complex and time-consuming.
- Many potato varieties used today have remained unchanged for decades, posing concerns as climate change progresses.
- Understanding the genetic origins of potatoes could help in breeding more resilient varieties to address future agricultural challenges.