A fossil chili pepper was identified by a research team of paleontologists and botanists. This unique finding may rewrite the evolutionary history and geography of the entire family of tomato plants.
Prehistoric Chili Pepper Fossils
According to Science Alert, the recent fossil identification shows that these plants could have been present longer than what was previously assumed.
Their findings were published in the New Phytologist journal. Earlier studies suggested that these plants dated as far as 15 million years ago, but this recent identification and analysis reveal that they date as far back to the Eocene period, which was roughly 34 to 56 million years ago.
This evolutionary history revision did not come as planned. It simply stemmed from a fresh look at fossils from the CU Boulder Museum of Natural History. Initially, they were not identified as chili peppers, but there were some signs that indicated that they belonged to this family. More specifically, it was due to the small spikes that could be found at the fruiting stem's end.
Rocío Deanna, the study's lead author and an evolutionary biologist, first expressed disbelief but had to acknowledge that these were hallmarks of chili pepper.
After finding these fossils, Deanna and Abel Campos, a co-author of the study and an undergraduate with a double major in evolutionary biology as well as molecular, cellular, and developmental biology, were able to find yet another chili pepper piece in museum collections in the Denver Museum of Nature and Science.
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Rewriting Nightshade Family History
As per Science Daily, these three chili pepper fossils from the Eocene times align with another nightshade fossil from the Esmeraldas Formation in Colombia. This hints that this plant family was already widely distributed across the Americas around 50 million years ago.
Deanna notes that the nightshade family, where both chili pepper and tomato plants belong, is much older than previously thought. Overall, the family covers around 3,000 species with almost 100 various genera.
The specialists are not very sure about the chili peppers' color and shape. However, it could have been smaller compared to those of today. It may have also been spicy, like its relatives.
These fossils could have been alive during the Eocene, roughly 34 to 56 million years ago. During this period, the levels of carbon dioxide across the globe ranged from 700 to 900 parts per million. Moreover, due to the earth's iceless condition, sea levels were 500 feet higher compared to that of today.
Previous estimates revealed that chili peppers originated in South America around 10 to 15 million years ago. Though Colorado still houses native nightshades but no chili peppers, the recent discovery suggests that various nightshade plants may have filled North America around 40 to 50 million years ago.
Read also: Chile Peppers in Space: Why Is NASA Growing Spices in the ISS? What Does It Mean for Astronauts?
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