The potato emerged 9 million years ago through hybridization involving an ancient tomato ancestor and other Solanum-related plants. This hybridization process led to the potato's ability to form tubers, which store carbohydrates and support reproduction without seeds. A recent genomic analysis by researchers examined cultivated potato varieties and 44 wild species, revealing insights into their genetic lineage. The introduction of the potato from the Americas played a crucial role in population growth in the Old World from 1700 to 1900, marking it as a key food source in global history.
The introduction of the potato from the Americas accounted for about a quarter of the population growth in the Old World between 1700 and 1900.
Potatoes as we know them today arose from a process of hybridization between an ancient tomato plant and other Solanum-related species from the Etuberosum family.
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