Overview
Background
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.
Availability
- Dr Pauline Okemo is:
- Available for supervision
Qualifications
- Doctor of Philosophy, Queensland University of Technology
Research interests
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Gene editing (CRISPR/Cas9)
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Plant tissue culture
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Abiotic stress responses in plants
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Plant evolution and stress tolerance strategies
Works
Search Professor Pauline Okemo’s works on UQ eSpace
2024
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
2024
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
2023
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
2022
Journal Article
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
2022
Book Chapter
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
2021
Journal Article
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
2020
Other Outputs
Regulation of plant programmed cell death by energy metabolism in the Australian resurrection grass Tripogon loliiformis
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
2019
Journal Article
Roots of the resurrection plant Tripogon loliiformis survive desiccation without the activation of autophagy pathways by maintaining energy reserves
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
2018
Journal Article
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
2018
Journal Article
Callus induction and plant regeneration from immature embryos of sweet sorghum (sorghum bicolor Moench)
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
2016
Journal Article
In planta seed transformation of Kenyan cowpeas (Vigna unguiculata) with P5CS gene via Agrobacterium tumefaciens
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
2016
Journal Article
Genotypic variation for low striga germination stimulation in Sorghum "Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench" landraces from Eritrea
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
Supervision
Availability
- Dr Pauline Okemo is:
- Available for supervision
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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.
Supervision history
Current supervision
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Doctor Philosophy
Genomic analysis of mechanisms of adaptive evolution
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Agnelo Furtado, Professor Robert Henry
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Doctor Philosophy
Rice gene editing
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Agnelo Furtado, Professor Robert Henry
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Doctor Philosophy
Analysis of the contribution of non-leaf photosynthesis to growth in cereal crops
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Agnelo Furtado, Professor Robert Henry
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Doctor Philosophy
Genomic analysis of potential food crops in the channel country
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Agnelo Furtado, Professor Robert Henry
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Doctor Philosophy
The identification of novel genes form Oryza austarliensis for rice improvement
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Agnelo Furtado, Professor Robert Henry
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Doctor Philosophy
Editing nutritional traits in rice.
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Agnelo Furtado, Professor Robert Henry
Media
Enquiries
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