Potatoes have their roots in ancient tomatoes.

The article focuses on the origins of the potato, revealing that it emerged from a hybridization between an ancient tomato plant and a tuberless potato-like species around 9 million years ago in the Andes mountains. Researchers analyzed the genomes of various cultivated potato varieties and their wild relatives, discovering that cultivated potatoes (Solanum tuberosum) possess a mixed genetic composition, with half of their genetic information derived from tomatoes and the other half from the tuberless lineage. This hybridization led to the development of tubers, essential for the plant's reproduction and survival. The findings suggest that understanding the potato's genetic ancestry could help scientists enhance its resilience against environmental challenges through breeding or genetic engineering. [Extracted from the article]