  In type IIB string theory, we consider fractional D3-branes in the orbifold
background dual to four-dimensional N=2 supersymmetric Yang-Mills theory. We
find the gravitational dual description of the generation of a non-trivial
field theory potential on the Coulomb branch. When the orbifold singularity is
softened to the smooth Eguchi-Hanson space, the resulting potential induces
spontaneous partial supersymmetry breaking. We study the N=1 theory arising in
those vacua and we see how the resolved conifold geometry emerges in this way.
It will be natural to identify the size of the blown-up two-cycle of that
geometry with the inverse mass of the adjoint chiral scalar. We finally discuss
the issue of geometric transition in this context.
