A recent genetic study has revealed that the modern potato evolved approximately nine million years ago through an ancient hybridization event involving a wild tomato and a tuberless plant species. This discovery clarifies the long-standing mystery surrounding the potato's origins, identifying the tomato as the maternal ancestor of the potato. The research, supported by scientists including Sandra Knapp, Loren H. Rieseberg, Jianquan Liu, and Sanwen Huang, highlights how this evolutionary event gave rise to the characteristic underground tuber of the potato, now the world's third-largest staple crop. The findings emphasize the potato's unique evolutionary path distinct from other related plants such as broccoli or cauliflower.