Posted on 09/16/2025 12:42:17 PM PDT by Red Badger
Despite being a staple food for millions of people worldwide, the genetic secrets of the sweet potato have long remained a mystery to scientists.
That is, until now. New research has revealed the complexities behind the genetic makeup of these tubers, widely considered to be a superfood for their health benefits. What science reveals about them is surprising, revealing a previously unknown evolutionary history involving a “hybrid ancestry” behind the beloved vegetables.
The research, led by Professor Zhangjun Fei at the Boyce Thompson Institute, was recently published in Nature Plants.
The Hybrid Ancestry of Sweet Potatoes
Sweet potatoes carry six sets of chromosomes, compared to the two sets that humans inherit. Scientists have a unique name for this—hexaploidy—and this unique quality has complicated efforts to unravel the secrets of the tasty tuber’s genetic history.
In their recent research, Professor Zhangjun and his team relied on cutting edge DNA sequencing technology, which allowed them to achieve a first in the science behind sweet potato origins: the first completely resolved genome of a variety of the root vegetable known as “Tanzania” which, as its name would indicate, is grown in Africa and renowned for its resilience.
(Credit: Unsplash)
For Zhangjun and his colleagues to achieve this, they were required to make their way through all six sets of the potato’s chromosomes—ninety of them in total—and then painstakingly reconstruct these back into their original six haplotype groups, allowing them to successfully phase the groups in a complete separation.
However, what the team discovered was more surprising than they expected.
Sweet Surprises
As it turns out, the genome of the Tanzania sweet potato revealed the vegetable’s assembly from several wild varieties, which included a handful of species that are not currently recognized.
Of the known varieties, the team’s work revealed that one in particular—Ipomoea aequatoriensis, a native potato that grows in Ecuador—accounts for nearly one-third of Tanzania’s genetic makeup. Equally surprising, another portion of recognized variants bore close resemblance to a wild species called Ipomoea batatas 4x,which grows in Central America.
While the similarity is noteworthy, the team says it is possible that it is superficial, and that the original “wild” genetic contributor to this ancient melting pot of tuber genes may remain unrecognized like other traces found in Tanzania’s genetic makeup.
“Unlike what we see in wheat, where ancestral contributions can be found in distinct genome sections,” says
Shan Wu, first author of the new study detailing the team’s findings, said in a statement that unlike wheat species, whose ancestral species are fairly distinctive, sweet potato ancestral sequences “are intertwined on the same chromosomes, creating a unique genomic architecture.” This leads to its classification as what scientists call a segmental allopolyploid, denoting its hybrid origins tracing back to several distinct species, but which, today, genetically appears as though it came from just one.
Future Considerations for Food Security
Going forward, future studies will continue to look at other varieties of sweet potatoes grown in various regions, including wild varieties, each of which could offer deeper insights into the genetic features carried by modern “hybrid” species that serve as staple foods for people in countries worldwide.
The possibilities for future research don’t end with sweet potatoes, however. The team’s breakthrough research could offer a pathway toward the deconstruction of other genomes that have proven especially perplexing to researchers in the past, including those belonging to foods like bananas, wheat, and others grown around the world.
Fundamentally, the achievement of genomic merging and successful recombination provides us with a deeper look into the history and heartiness of sweet potatoes, which helps to reveal why they have proven to be such a successful crop in various places around the world throughout time.
The study, “Phased chromosome-level assembly provides insight into the genome architecture of hexaploid sweetpotato,” appeared in Nature Plants on August 8, 2025.
Gardening Ping!...................
That’s great, but personally I don’t like the taste so much. Especially sweet potato fries. Never understood the attraction.
Easy Sweet Potato Bake
A crispy crust and tender center, this is delicious.
Ing 1.5 pounds sweet potatoes peeled 5 tbl butter melted 2 tbl fresh
rosemary & thyme 1/2 tsp garlic salt 1 tsp pepper 1/2 c Parm, flaky sea salt for serving
Method Lightly grease cast iron skillet. Mandoline or slice peeled potatoes thinly. Transfer to bowl and add melted butter, herbs, seasonings and Parm; evenly coat potatoes. Layer slices in cast iron skillet in circular shape. Foil pan; bake 400 deg 40 min. Remove foil; cook 20 min more– set oven to broil last couple minutes for crispier topping. Top with more fresh herbs & sea salt; serve hot.
“... I don’t like the taste so much. Especially sweet potato fries”
Just wait until they start frying them in lard or tallow!
I love those, so did my Dad.
I don’t care. I despise sweet potatoes. A sweet potato casserole is an absolute abomination.
Sweet Potato Pie is delicious!................
10-4 Yuck! Family loves them, my Ex is the Sweet potato pie maker on Thanksgiving. They go crazy. It disgusts me....
But to each his own...
I love Sweet Potatoes. They’re hard to grow up here, but it can be done. They’re cheap enough to buy, as are all root crops in Wisconsin, so I usually don’t devote any garden space to them.
>cough< >cough< GAG!!!
“Sweet Potato Pie is delicious!................”
Tastes just like pumpkin in a pie.
They also make a great bread Liz...Tastes just like pumpkin bread...
I don’t care. I despise sweet potatoes. A sweet
potato casserole is an absolute abomination.
Well, go ahead......vote Democrat.....see if I care.
Don’t like the fries at all.
Regular baked with the cinnamon, butter, and brown sugar...I like that. And the casserole with the marshmallows.
I tried. I really did try, but I have such a low tolerance for the taste of sweet potatoes that it would literally have to cure cancer for me to force it down, no matter how it’s doctored.
Thanks Red Badger. As Thanksgiving approaches in the US, remember all, the sweet potato and the yam are two different things.
Bkmk to cook
Sweet potato fries with apple butter to dip ‘em in, yum!
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