Plant biotechnology research into the cultivation of disease-free potatoes, showing coated (white) & uncoated potato seeds. Scientists are working to provide growers with the ability to plant an acre with no more than one pound of seed, instead of the tons of tubers (seed potatoes) presently required to do the job. Seed also has the advantage that it is less likely to rot in storage: the resulting reduction in waste is projected to reduce growers' costs by $100 per acre. Photo taken at Escagen Corporation, San Carlos, California.