TILLING (Targeting Induced Local Lesions IN Genomes) was first developed in Arabidopsis to study gene function after the completion of Arabidopsis genome sequencing (McCallum et al, 2000; Colbert et al, 2001). This reverse genetics tool combines traditional chemical mutagenesis methods with high-throughput mutation detection techniques, and yields an allelic series of point mutations including knock-out and partial inactivation of the gene of interest. Wheat has a large and complex genome. Its polyploidy nature makes it difficult to identify desirable genetic changes based on phenotypic screens due to the redundant copies of genes. Here we show TILLING is suitable for wheat for identifying useful mutants for wheat breeding.
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