Overview

• A Cell study published July 31 confirms that all modern potatoes trace back to a single natural hybridization between tomato ancestors and Etuberosum species about nine million years ago.
• Genomic analysis of dozens of wild and cultivated potato varieties shows each genome carries a balanced mosaic of contributions from both parent lineages.
• Researchers pinpointed that the SP6A gene from the tomato side and the IT1 gene from the Etuberosum side combined in the ancient hybrid to enable development of nutrient-storing tubers.
• The timing of this hybrid speciation aligned with rapid uplift of the Andes Mountains, opening new ecological niches that fueled an explosion of potato diversity.
• Ongoing efforts seek to harness these ancestral genes through traditional breeding and genetic engineering to restore lost traits and enhance potato resilience to climate stressors.