Скачать или смотреть The History of Potatoes

🥔 Tomato Relative Accidentally Invented the Potato 🍅

Find the full article on Earth.com here: https://www.earth.com/news/potato-ori...

Scientists have finally solved the 9-million-year mystery behind potato origins through genetic research. This discovery reveals how an ancient hybridization event between distant plant relatives created the world's most essential crop.

🥔 Key discoveries covered:

💕 Ancient interbreeding between the tomato ancestor and the Etuberosum species
🧬 Two critical genes SP6A and IT1 that enable tuber formation
⏰ SP6A gene acts as a timer for underground storage development
🌱 IT1 gene drives actual tuber growth mechanisms
🔬 Comprehensive analysis of 450 cultivated potato genomes
🌍 How this hybrid gave potatoes survival advantages in harsh climates
🍟 From wild plant encounter to feeding billions worldwide
⛰️ Andes mountain formation coincided with potato evolution
🌿 Vegetative reproduction through tubers enabled rapid species diversification

📊 Published research from the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences

This study, published in Cell Journal,l traced the potato genetic lineage back millions of years, revealing how hybridization between species separated for 5 million years created entirely new reproductive strategies and agricultural possibilities.