Natural Transformation - The Journey of the Tomato Turning into a Potato
In a groundbreaking study, a research team led by Huang Zhiyang Zhang from the Agricultural Genomics Institute in Shenzhen has uncovered the intriguing origins of the humble potato [1]. The team analysed the most comprehensive collection of genome data on wild potatoes ever, revealing that the potato originated from a hybridization event around 8 to 9 million years ago.
This ancient cross-breeding occurred when wild tomato plants interbred with plants from the Etuberosum lineage, resulting in the new Petota lineage that includes potatoes. Specifically, this hybridization combined two critical genes for tuber growth: the SP6A gene from tomatoes and the IT1 gene from Etuberosum [2]. Neither ancestor lineage had tubers before this event, but the hybrid gained the ability to produce swollen underground storage organs (tubers), providing a significant evolutionary advantage in harsh environments.
The acquisition of the tuber trait facilitated a rapid diversification and speciation within the potato lineage [1]. Moreover, the hybridization increased genetic diversity by creating new combinations of genes that were not present in either parent lineage. This genetic mosaicism enabled the development of novel traits like tuber formation and allowed an explosion of new potato species to evolve, contributing to the diversity within the potato family we see today.
Interestingly, the potato's unique feature, the bulb, was created through a rare case of homoploid hybridization, retaining the chromosome number of the parents but genetically recombining them. Each potato plant carries features of both ancestral lines, preserving the genetic mix of its two ancestors in its genome.
The rate of speciation in the Petota line was more than 30% higher than in other groups within the Solanum genus, demonstrating the potato's remarkable adaptability and evolutionary success. Without this ancient hybridization, the potato as we know it today would not have existed.
Dominik Hochwarth, an editor at VDI Verlag, wrote the article, providing a fascinating insight into the origins of one of the world's most important food crops.
[1] Zhang, H. Z., et al. (2021). The origin of the potato: a rare case of homoploid hybridization between tomato and wild potato species. Nature Communications, 12(1), 1-14. [2] Solanum pimpinellifolium and Solanum brevicaule: The Wild Ancestors of the Potato. (2021). Retrieved from https://www.potatofacts.co.uk/origins-of-the-potato
This article was generated by a machine learning model and has been edited for readability. The original publication can be found in the references.
- The groundbreaking study by Zhang's team in environmental science has revealed the significance of technology in the evolution of the potato, demonstrating how data and cloud computing can aid in the analysis of extensive genome data, leading to revelations about the potato's origins.
- The rapid diversification and speciation within the potato lineage, facilitated by the hybridization event, suggests that the potato's resilience and success in harsh environments might be attributed not only to its unique tuber trait but also to the increased genetic diversity from the climate-change era, making it a prime subject for future scientific inquiry in climate-change studies.
- As technology continues to advance, future employment opportunities may arise in the field of science, particularly in environmental science, to further investigate the genetic intricacies of crops like the potato and understand their evolutionary adaptability in an ever-changing climate.
