Uncovering the Surprising Connection: How Potatoes Evolved from Tomato Ancestors

When you think of foods, chips and tomatoes seem worlds apart. But research shows they share a fascinating connection. Scientists have discovered that potatoes evolved from a tomato ancestor nearly 9 million years ago.

Back in the Andes, wild tomatoes mingled with a plant called Etuberosum, merging their genetics in a process known as hybridization. According to Sanwen Huang, a professor at the Agricultural Genomics Institute in Shenzhen, “Tomato is the mother and Etuberosum is the father.” At first glance, potato plants look much like Etuberosum, but below the surface, the difference is stark: Etuberosum lacks the starchy tubers we associate with potatoes.

To understand how potatoes developed their tubers, researchers turned to tomatoes. Although tomatoes don’t produce tubers, they have a similar genetic makeup. “They belong to the same plant family as eggplant and tobacco, but tomato, potato, and Etuberosum are genetically closest,” Huang explained.

The breakthrough came when the research team analyzed 450 cultivated potato genomes and 56 wild varieties—one of the largest studies of its kind. They discovered two essential genes: SP6A from tomatoes and IT1 from Etuberosum. Alone, neither gene creates tubers. But together, they trigger the transformation of underground stems into the starchy potatoes we know.

James Mallet, a professor at Harvard, praised the research, calling it groundbreaking. “It shows how hybridization can lead to new organs and even new species,” he said.

These built-in gene combinations gave potatoes resilience, allowing them to thrive in challenging environments. They store energy in their tubers, supporting survival during droughts or cold winters. Instead of relying on seeds, new plants grow from buds on the tubers.

In the Andes, diverse growing conditions led to a rich variety of potatoes. Indigenous peoples have cultivated hundreds of types, while in Europe, we mainly use just one variety—Solanum tuberosum.

The potato made its journey from the Andes to Europe in the 16th century aboard Spanish ships. At first, it faced skepticism because it grew underground and had no biblical roots. But soon, its nutritional value and durability won over many, and it became a global staple.

What’s next for this adaptable plant? With its closest relatives now too different for natural hybridization, researchers are exploring artificial methods for breeding. Huang shared, “We’re working on a project that helps potatoes reproduce by seeds. We’re also inserting the IT1 gene from potatoes into tomatoes to see if they can produce tubers.”

It’s still in the early stages, but if successful, tomatoes might not only be part of potatoes’ past but also their future. The science continues to deepen our understanding of these everyday foods, revealing surprising connections in the plant kingdom.



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