Ipomoea aequatoriensis
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| Ipomoea aequatoriensis | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
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| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Solanales |
| Family: | Convolvulaceae |
| Genus: | Ipomoea |
| Species: | I. aequatoriensis
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| Binomial name | |
| Ipomoea aequatoriensis | |
Ipomoea aequatoriensis , a plant discovered in 2022, is a morning glory that is said to be the closest wild relative to the sweet potato. The evolution of the sweet potato has always been a mystery, however with the discovery of this new plant, the history has become a bit clearer. The newly found plant was discovered by an Oxford University team of researchers lead by Dr. Pablo Muńoz-Rodríguez.[1] The plant was "stumbled upon" when the team was looking at herbarium specimens that had been collected of the plant Ipomoea batatas when researchers realized that one of the collected specimens differed in sepals and other characteristics.[2]
Description
The newly found specimen of 'I. aequatoriensis has been said to be the closest wild relative of the sweet potato. The plant is a morning glory that is weedy with flowers that are white and purple in color. Before discovery of Ip. aequatoriensis , the plant Ipomoea batatas were known to be the most closely related to the sweet potato. However, I. aequatoriensis differ because they are tetraploid meaning they have four sets of chromosomes. This puts them the closest to the sweetpotato since they are hexaploidy with six sets of chromosomes.[1] In addition, the sepals of the new plant are said to be obovate meaning that they have a narrower end at the base of the flower. I. aequatoriensis has been discovered to be found only in a single geographic area. As for morphology, they are closely related to I. batatas, in the fact that they have similar corolla size and dense subumbellate inflorescence. But, they differ due to the sepals being shorter and the stems being thinner with longer internodes.[2]
Habitat
I. aequatoriensis can be found in the coastal areas of South America in Ecuador.[1][2]
Conservation
The specimen, I. aequatoriensis is currently not on any endangerment lists. Conservation efforts for the newly found have not been named. However, with the recent discovery that this plant is the most closely wild relative of the sweet potato, efforts for more in depth genomic research have been fueled.
References
- ^ a b c "Mystery of sweetpotato origin uncovered, as missing link plant found". News and Events. University of Oxford. 24 January 2022. Retrieved 23 April 2023.
- ^ a b c Muñoz-Rodríguez.P; Wells.T; Wood J.R.I.; Carruthers.T; Anglin N.L.; Jarret R.L.; Scotland R.W. (22 January 2022). "Discovery and characterization of sweetpotato's closest tetraploid relative". New Phytologist. Wiley Online Library. Retrieved 25 April 2023.