Interbreeding with tomatoes 9 million years ago gave potatoes the genes to develop tubers



Summary

A study suggests potatoes developed their tuber-forming ability through a surprising event: interbreeding with tomatoes around 9 million years ago. This ancient hybridization introduced key genes into the potato lineage, specifically those related to tuber development. By analyzing potato genomes and comparing them to related species, researchers identified these tomato-derived genes as crucial for the potato’s unique ability to store energy underground as tubers, marking a significant evolutionary event. This finding sheds light on the complex origins of one of the world’s most important food crops.

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