Potatoes grown commercially are actually clones, produced vegetatively by tuber cuttings (the lateral buds or "eyes") rather than by the true botanical seed. The use of the true botanical seed has become somewhat of an art form in plant breeding. Vegetative propagation ensures the continuation of desired crop characteristics; however, because crops grown in this way are usually homogeneous, they are particularly vulnerable to disease.

Both male and female potato plants are frequently sterile, especially those commercial cultivars. For example, Russet Burbank, the most popular cultivar in the U.S. is a male sterile. Russet Burbank potatoes will not produce viable pollen that will fertilize potato flowers and thus spread genetic material. Potato sterility makes potato breeding extremely difficult, preventing the introduction of desired traits, such as disease resistance traits into commercial cultivars through traditional breeding methods.