Many of the roots used for sweet potato slip production produce only a few shoots. This is because the end of the root is strongly dominant and can inhibit slip growth. Various chemical and physical methods have been tried to find a practical method to overcome this inhibition. None of the chemicals that showed promise has found extensive commercial use. Sectioning the sweet potatoes by cross-cutting overcomes part of the dominance expressed by the apical end of the root. However, each cut end has a distinct proximal dominance.