Patricia Okubara
Research Geneticist (Plants),
USDA-ARS/ Adjunct Professor
Research Specialty and Interests
Dr. Patricia (Pat) Okubara is a plant molecular biologist with a keen interest in plant-microbe interactions. The focus of her research is to uncover and understand the action of plant genes that govern interactions with beneficial and pathogenic microbes. The goals of this research are to enhance the resistance of dryland crops, such as wheat, to fungal root pathogens, and to enhance the ability of crop plants to establish and maintain interactions with beneficial bacteria and fungi. Using a combination of genetic and biochemical approaches, Dr. Okubara is examining host genetic variation in root development and colonization by pseudomonad biological control agents. She plans to identify and characterize specific plant genes using microarrays and other current molecular methods.
Professional Experience
- 1997-2001 Postdoctoral Associate, USDA ARS, Western Regional Research Center, Albany, CA
- 1995-1997 Visiting Scientist, Environmental Horticulture Department, University of California, Davis
- 1992-1995 Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Vegetable Crops, University of California, Davis
Awars/Honors/Memberships
- American Society of Plant Biologists
- American Phytopathological Society
- International Society for Plant Molecular Biology
- International Society for Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions
Selected Publications
Okubara PA and Bonsall RF (2008). Accumulation of Pseudomonas-derived 2,4-diacetylphloroglucinol on wheat seedling roots is influenced by host cultivar. Biol Cont, in press.
Okubara PA, Schroeder KL, Paulitz TC (2008). Identification and quantification of Rhizoctonia solani and R. oryzae using real-time PCR. Phytopathology, in press.
Okubara PA, Li C, Schroeder KL, Schumacher RT, Lawrence NP (2007). Improved extraction of Rhizoctonia and Pythium DNA from wheat roots and soil samples using pressure cycling technology. Can J Plant Pathol 29: 304-310.
Paulitz TC, Okubara PA, Schillinger WF (2006) First report of damping-off of canola caused by Rhizoctonia solani AG 2-1 in Washington State. Plant Dis. 90: 829.
Schroeder KL, Okubara PA, Tambong JT, Lévesque CA, Paulitz TC (2006) Identification and quantification of pathogenic Pythium spp. from soils in eastern Washington using real-time PCR. Phytopathology 96: 637-647.
Okubara PA, Keller KE, McClendon MT, Inglis DA, McPhee KE, Coyne CJ (2005) Y15_999Fw, a dominant SCAR marker linked to the Fusarium wilt race 1 (Fw) resistance gene in pea. Pisum Genet. 37: 32-35.
Okubara PA, Schroeder KL, Paulitz TC (2005) Real-time PCR: applications to studies on soilborne pathogens. Can J Plant Pathol. 27: 300-313.
Skinner DZ, Okubara PA, Baek K-H, Call DR (2005) Long oligonucleotide microarrays in wheat: evaluation of hybridization signal amplification and an oligonucleotide-design computer script. Func. Integ. Genomics 5: 70-79.
Okubara PA, Paulitz TC (2005) Root defense responses to fungal pathogens: a molecular perspective. Plant Soil 274(1): 215-226.
Okubara PA, Kornoely JP, Landa BB (2004) Rhizosphere colonization of hexaploid wheat by Pseudomonas fluorescens strains Q8r1-96 and Q2-87 is cultivar-variable and associated with changes in gross root morphology. Biol Cont 30: 392-403.
Okubara PA, Inglis DA, Muehlbauer FJ, Coyne CJ (2002) A novel RAPD marker linked to the Fusarium wilt race 5 resistance gene (Fwf) in Pisum sativum. Pisum Genet 34: 6-8.
Johnson
Hall 333 (office) &
Vogel Plant BioScience 325(lab)
Tel.: (509)335-7824
Fax: (509)335-7674
E-mail: pokubara@wsu.edu
Heading using the h3 tag
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