Postdoctoral Research Fellow
Overview
Pauline has extensive knowledge and research experience in Molecular biology, Plant tissue culture, transformation and gene modification using CRIPSR/Cas9. Pauline has worked on both cereals and legumes. Her interests are in understanding and underpinning molecular mechanisms used by extremophiles to survive harsh conditions.
Pauline is currently working on understanding rice domestication by using gene editing techniques to modify agronomically important traits in both wild and cultivated rice species. Her ultimate goal is to see high end laboratory research transition to benefit the consumer/breeders/ farmers.
Research Interests
- Gene editing (CRISPR/Cas9)
- Plant tissue culture
- Abiotic stress responses in plants
- Plant evolution and stress tolerance strategies
Qualifications
- Doctor of Philosophy, Queensland University of Technology
Publications
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Journal Article: Crop domestication in the Asia Pacific region: a review
Okemo, Pauline, Wijesundra, Upendra, Nakandala, Upuli, Dillon, Natalie, Chandora, Rahul, Campbell, Bradley, Smith, Millicent, Hardner, Craig, Cadorna, Charles A., Martin, Guillaume, Yahiaoui, Nabila, Garsmeur, Olivier, Pompidor, Nicolas, D’Hont, Angelique and Henry, Robert J. (2024). Crop domestication in the Asia Pacific region: a review. Agriculture Communications, 2 (1) 100032, 100032. doi: 10.1016/j.agrcom.2024.100032
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Journal Article: An improved haplotype resolved genome reveals more rice genes
Abdullah, Muhammad, Furtado, Agnelo, Masouleh, Ardashir Kharabian, Okemo, Pauline and Henry, Robert (2024). An improved haplotype resolved genome reveals more rice genes. Tropical Plants, 3 (1). doi: 10.48130/tp-0024-0007
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Journal Article: Tripogon loliiformis tolerates rapid desiccation after metabolic and transcriptional priming during initial drying
Okemo, Pauline A., Njaci, Isaac, Kim, Young-Mo, McClure, Ryan S., Peterson, Matthew J., Beliaev, Alexander S., Hixson, Kim K., Mundree, Sagadevan and Williams, Brett (2023). Tripogon loliiformis tolerates rapid desiccation after metabolic and transcriptional priming during initial drying. Scientific Reports, 13 (1) 20613, 1-13. doi: 10.1038/s41598-023-47456-3
Supervision
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The identification of novel genes form Oryza austarliensis for rice improvement
Doctor Philosophy
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Analysis of the contribution of non-leaf photosynthesis to growth in cereal crops
Doctor Philosophy
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Genomic analysis of potential food crops in the channel country
Doctor Philosophy
Available Projects
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Domestication of new crops
Crope wild relatives are a treasure trove of diverse genes that could be useful in generating crops of the future. There are gaps in understanding crop evolution and domestication. This project will utilize modern breeding technologies to provide insight on domestication of these crops, and their potential as new sources of food.
Publications
Book Chapter
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The use of genome sequencing to improve crops for tropical agriculture
Okemo, Pauline, Wijesundra, Upendra, Nakandala, Upuli, Ananda, Galaihalage K.S., Vanambathina, Prameela, Hasan, Sharmin, Abdulla, Muhammad, Sharma, Priyanka, Manatunga, Sachini, Pazhany, Adhini, Kharabian Masouleh, Ardy, Nath, Onkar, Mitter, Neena, Furtado, Agnelo and Henry, Robert J. (2022). The use of genome sequencing to improve crops for tropical agriculture. Next-generation sequencing and agriculture. (pp. 59-91) edited by Philipp E. Bayer and David Edwards. Wallingford, Oxfordshire, United Kingdom: CAB International. doi: 10.1079/9781789247848.0004
Journal Article
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Crop domestication in the Asia Pacific region: a review
Okemo, Pauline, Wijesundra, Upendra, Nakandala, Upuli, Dillon, Natalie, Chandora, Rahul, Campbell, Bradley, Smith, Millicent, Hardner, Craig, Cadorna, Charles A., Martin, Guillaume, Yahiaoui, Nabila, Garsmeur, Olivier, Pompidor, Nicolas, D’Hont, Angelique and Henry, Robert J. (2024). Crop domestication in the Asia Pacific region: a review. Agriculture Communications, 2 (1) 100032, 100032. doi: 10.1016/j.agrcom.2024.100032
-
An improved haplotype resolved genome reveals more rice genes
Abdullah, Muhammad, Furtado, Agnelo, Masouleh, Ardashir Kharabian, Okemo, Pauline and Henry, Robert (2024). An improved haplotype resolved genome reveals more rice genes. Tropical Plants, 3 (1). doi: 10.48130/tp-0024-0007
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Okemo, Pauline A., Njaci, Isaac, Kim, Young-Mo, McClure, Ryan S., Peterson, Matthew J., Beliaev, Alexander S., Hixson, Kim K., Mundree, Sagadevan and Williams, Brett (2023). Tripogon loliiformis tolerates rapid desiccation after metabolic and transcriptional priming during initial drying. Scientific Reports, 13 (1) 20613, 1-13. doi: 10.1038/s41598-023-47456-3
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Potential of genome editing to capture diversity from Australian wild rice relatives
Abdullah, Muhammad, Okemo, Pauline, Furtado, Agnelo and Henry, Robert (2022). Potential of genome editing to capture diversity from Australian wild rice relatives. Frontiers in Genome Editing, 4 875243. doi: 10.3389/fgeed.2022.875243
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Stachyose triggers apoptotic like cell death in drought sensitive but not resilient plants
Okemo, Pauline, Long, Hao, Cheng, Yen, Mundree, Sagadevan and Williams, Brett (2021). Stachyose triggers apoptotic like cell death in drought sensitive but not resilient plants. Scientific Reports, 11 (1) 7099. doi: 10.1038/s41598-021-86559-7
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Asami, Pauline, Rupasinghe, Thusitha, Moghaddam, Lalehvash, Njaci, Isaac, Roessner, Ute, Mundree, Sagadevan and Williams, Brett (2019). Roots of the resurrection plant Tripogon loliiformis survive desiccation without the activation of autophagy pathways by maintaining energy reserves. Frontiers in Plant Science, 10 459. doi: 10.3389/fpls.2019.00459
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Saving for a rainy day: Control of energy needs in resurrection plants
Asami, Pauline, Mundree, Sagadevan and Williams, Brett (2018). Saving for a rainy day: Control of energy needs in resurrection plants. Plant Science, 271, 62-66. doi: 10.1016/j.plantsci.2018.03.009
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Omer, Rasha Adam, Asami, Pauline and Birungi, Josephine (2018). Callus induction and plant regeneration from immature embryos of sweet sorghum (sorghum bicolor Moench). Biotechnology, 17 (1), 12-18. doi: 10.3923/biotech.2018.12.18
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Rachel, Okeyo Ikawa, Nelson, Onzere Amugune, Norman, Chege Njoroge, Pauline, Asami and Timothy, Holton (2016). In planta seed transformation of Kenyan cowpeas (Vigna unguiculata) with P5CS gene via Agrobacterium tumefaciens. Journal of Agricultural Biotechnology and Sustainable Development, 8 (5), 32-45. doi: 10.5897/jabsd2016.0257
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Yohannes, Tadesse, Ngugi, Kahiu, Ariga, Emanuel, Abraha, Tesfamichael, Yao, Nasser, Asami, Pauline and Ahonsi, Monday (2016). Genotypic variation for low striga germination stimulation in Sorghum "Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench" landraces from Eritrea. American Journal of Plant Sciences, 07 (17), 2470-2482. doi: 10.4236/ajps.2016.717215
Other Outputs
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Okemo, Pauline Asami (2020). Regulation of plant programmed cell death by energy metabolism in the Australian resurrection grass Tripogon loliiformis. PhD Thesis, Faculty of Science, Queensland University of Technology. doi: 10.5204/thesis.eprints.205617
PhD and MPhil Supervision
Current Supervision
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The identification of novel genes form Oryza austarliensis for rice improvement
Doctor Philosophy — Associate Advisor
Other advisors:
-
Analysis of the contribution of non-leaf photosynthesis to growth in cereal crops
Doctor Philosophy — Associate Advisor
Other advisors:
-
Genomic analysis of potential food crops in the channel country
Doctor Philosophy — Associate Advisor
Other advisors:
-
Editing nutritional traits in rice.
Doctor Philosophy — Associate Advisor
Other advisors:
-
Genomic analysis of mechanisms of adaptive evolution
Doctor Philosophy — Associate Advisor
Other advisors:
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Rice gene editing
Doctor Philosophy — Associate Advisor
Other advisors:
Possible Research Projects
Note for students: The possible research projects listed on this page may not be comprehensive or up to date. Always feel free to contact the staff for more information, and also with your own research ideas.
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Domestication of new crops
Crope wild relatives are a treasure trove of diverse genes that could be useful in generating crops of the future. There are gaps in understanding crop evolution and domestication. This project will utilize modern breeding technologies to provide insight on domestication of these crops, and their potential as new sources of food.
