The Genetic Origins of Potatoes and Their Tomato Link

It seems we have tomatoes to thank for the existence of the table potato, as a study published in the scientific journal " Cell Press on July 31, 2025, on the genetic origins of the potato. The results showed that a hybridization process occurred about 8 to 9 million years ago between an ancient plant related to the tomato and another plant, and this hybridization led to the emergence of the first potato known to the world.n\nThis “botanical union” resulted in a genetic mix that produced a thick, starchy tuber, which has become the third most important food crop globally. Unlike tomatoes, whose fruits ripen above ground, potatoes form their tubers underground, giving them distinct and unique agricultural characteristics.\n\nThe history of the potato dates back about 8,000 years, when it was cultivated in the Andes Mountains of South America, specifically in Chile and Peru. In the 16th century, the potato was brought to Europe by Spanish explorers, and it gradually spread to become one of the world’s most important food crops.\n\nPotatoes are among the easiest crops to grow; they can be cultivated using small tubers weighing between 30 and 50 grams, which later grow to produce between 3 and 5 kilograms of potatoes, depending on the variety, growing location, and growing season.\n\nPotatoes belong to the "Solanum" genus, the same genus as tomatoes, eggplants, and peppers. This genus is one of the largest among flowering plants, comprising more than a thousand species.\n\nPotatoes as we know them today contain many harmful genetic mutations that make the plant more susceptible to disease. To address this issue, the Genomi-China Institute is working to develop a new hybrid potato variety with fewer negative mutations, while also exploring the possibility of growing it from seeds rather than using traditional seed potatoes.\n\nIt is noteworthy that China is the most active country in the field of potato research and development, which is not surprising when we consider the ranking of the top potato-producing countries (in millions of tons):\n● China: 90\n● India: 55\n● Russia: 20\n● Ukraine: 20\n● United States: 18.\n\nDuring my visit to Peru in 2014, I made a point of visiting the local fruit and vegetable markets there to see potato products and their original form; they were dark in color and round, with a slightly blackish hue.