Potato is an ancient New World crop that today ranks among the world's most important food crops. Potato enjoys a long history of improvement through traditional breeding. Breeders target multiple traits, including resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses and tuber quality. Transformation technologies allow the transfer of genes from wild species or the introduction of novel traits while preserving combinations of desirable traits already associated with commercially profitable potato varieties. Transformation approaches are well developed for potato;
Agrobacterium
‐mediated transformation is the most commonly utilized method. Donor genes have originated from
Solanum
species, other plant species, bacteria, and viruses. Transgenic approaches have been utilized to improve stress resistance, tuber quality, and industrial utility. Field tests of transgenic potato have been conducted in many parts of the world. Governmental regulations are in place to ensure the safe field release of transgenic potato. Transgenic approaches aimed at improving disease resistance, tolerance to cold sweetening, and nutritional qualities are likely to continue in the future. Transformation technologies that rely only on plant‐derived DNA without the use of a selectable marker and methods for site‐specific introduction of a transgene are important areas of research and may help to address concerns associated with potato transformation.