# A gardener uses a single healthy potato plant to produce a large number of new potato plants by cutting sections of the potato tuber and planting each section separately. Explain why this method of reproduction makes the entire crop vulnerable to being destroyed by a single pathogen.

> Cambridge International IGCSE Biology (0610) — 16.1 Asexual reproduction · Explain · 4 marks

## Mark scheme (4 marks)

1. The method described is asexual reproduction, producing genetically identical offspring (clones)
2. Because all plants are genetically identical, they all share the same susceptibility to a given pathogen / none have genetic resistance
3. There is no genetic variation / diversity in the population
4. Therefore the whole population / entire crop can be destroyed by one pathogen

## Key terms

- [pathogen](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/glossary/pathogen)

## Related

- [Revision notes for Cambridge International IGCSE Biology (0610)](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/learn)
- [How to answer "Explain" questions](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/tools/command-word-cheatsheet)
- [Practice this with AI marking (free)](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/start)

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Source: [GradeNine](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/q/a-gardener-uses-a-single-healthy-eda22444) · Published by Druglandscape Ltd.