The potato we eat today, whose origins had remained a mystery for years, was formed through the hybridization of a tomato and a species of wild potato in South America up to 9 million years ago, according to new research by scientists from China, the UK, and the U.S., published in the journal Cell Press.
The researchers found that, genetically, modern potatoes are composed of 60% from the Etuberosum family of non-edible wild potatoes native to Chile, and 40% from the tomato. This cross also gave rise to the potato’s ability to reproduce “on its own,” without seeds or pollination, a trait that enabled it to adapt and survive across the globe.
Alongside corn, rice, and wheat, potatoes now account for roughly 80% of human caloric intake.
According to the scientists, the hybridization coincided with the formation of the Andes mountains 6 to 10 million years ago. The potato’s key adaptation, its nutrient-storing tuber, helped it withstand harsh conditions and spread into cold climates across the Andes and central Mexico. From there, humans carried it around the world, and today, potatoes are among the foundational crops of the global food system. Alongside corn, rice, and wheat, they now account for roughly 80% of human caloric intake.
What is fyi.news?
