Abstract

The tiller inhibition (tin) gene is known to reduce the number of tillers in a wheat plant, also leads to the development of ‘Gigas’ characteristics such as large spikes, thick leaves and stems. The 80 advanced lines with variable number of tillers were screened with a SSR marker (Xgwm136) associated with tin gene. 90 % lines amplified according to the reported banding pattern for tin gene. A nearly perfect co-segregation of the marker and the number of tillers per square meter area was observed suggesting that the marker can be used in the MAS for the number of tillers in wheat.