Ancient Plant Hybridization Gave Birth to the Modern Potato

By Andi Anderson

The humble potato, now a staple crop worldwide, has a remarkable origin story uncovered through advanced genetic research.

Scientists have discovered that the potato lineage arose about 9 million years ago from an ancient hybridization between the ancestors of tomatoes and a wild plant group known as Etuberosum.

This unexpected genetic union combined key traits from both parent plants, producing a species capable of forming underground tubers — an adaptation neither parent possessed.

These tubers allowed the plant to store energy and survive the cold, dry conditions of the newly forming Andes mountains, where it could flourish until conditions favored rapid reproduction.

Researchers sequenced the genomes of tomatoes, Etuberosum species, and multiple wild and cultivated potatoes. They found a balanced genetic mix from both parent groups, with essential tuber producing genes inherited from each side.

When either gene set was removed experimentally, the plant could not produce tubers, confirming the hybrid origin of this key trait.

The potato’s alpine success allowed it to diversify rapidly in South America. Around 6,000–7,000 years ago, people near Lake Titicaca domesticated a single potato species, leading to the hundreds of varieties grown today.

Beyond solving a long standing botanical mystery, the findings could shape the future of potato breeding. Because modern potatoes are propagated from tuber pieces rather than seeds, they are genetically uniform and more vulnerable to disease.

Understanding their hybrid origins could enable scientists to introduce new traits — such as pest resistance or climate resilience — by drawing from their tomato and Etuberosum relatives.

This research not only explains how one of the world’s most important crops came to be but also highlights hybridization as a powerful driver of plant evolution. While many such genetic experiments in nature fail, in this case, it produced a global food staple — turning a genetic fluke into a vital part of human diets.

Photo Credit: gettyimages-npantos