Staff

Joseph DiTomaso, Director
Gale Perez , Program Representative

Joseph M. DiTomaso
Extension Non-Crop Weed Ecologist
Robbins Hall
Phone: (530) 754-8715
Fax: (530) 752-4604
E-mail: jmditomaso@ucdavis.edu

Research and Extension:

Taxonomy, ecology, physiology and control of rangeland, forestry and wetland weeds; poisonous plants.

Education

BS-University of California, Davis, Wildlife and Fisheries Biology, 1977
MS-Humboldt State University, Biological Sciences, 1981
PhD-University of California, Davis, Botany, 1986

Professional Experience

Postdoctoral Research Associate, Montana State University, Bozeman, 1987

Cornell University, Associate Professor, Department of Soil, Crop and Atmospheric Sci., 1987-1995

Cornell University, Associate Professor, Department of Soil, Crop and Atmospheric Sci., 1987-1995

University of California, Davis, Associate Non-Crop Weed Ecologist Department of Vegetable Crops, UC Davis 1995-present

Research

My primary focus is on understanding various biological and ecological aspects of non-crop weeds, and to use this information to develop effective control strategies. Some examples of my research efforts include:

1. burning, mowing, grazing and herbicides as methods for control of yellow starthistle (Centaurea solstitialis),

2. understanding yellow starthistle seed bank dynamics, root development and water usage,

3. examining shoot/root allocations and determining the most effect timing for control of perennial pepperweed (Lepidium latifolium), using mowing in combination with herbicides,

4. investigating the reproductive biology and environmental requirements for germination and establishment of jubata and pampas grass (Cortaderia spp), and

5. developing integrated systems approaches for the control of rangeland weeds, using a combination of control strategies.
   
   

Outreach

My extension work focuses on providing both oral and written information on the biology, ecology and control of weeds in non-crop environments, with emphasis on California. These include weeds of rangelands, forests, aquatic areas, right-of ways, utilities, and natural habitats. My research program is closely tied to my extension responsibilities.

Selected References

DiTomaso, J.M. 1998. Identification, Biology and Ecology of Salt Ceder. Weed Technology (in press).

Fredickson, E.A. and J.M. DiTomaso 1997. Evaluating several herbicide treatments for black oak (Quercus kelloggii) control and ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa) tolerance. Proceedings of the Forest Vegetation Management Conference. 18:34-44.

DiTomaso, J.M., D.B. Marcum, M.S. Rasmussen, E.A. Healy, and G.B.Kyser. 1997 Post-fire site preparation enhances recovery of native plant diversity. California Agriculture 51(1):6-11.

Lasat, M.M., J.M. DiTomaso, J.J. Hart, and L.V. Kochian. 1997. Evidence for vacuolar sequestration in paraquat in roots of a paraquat-resistant (Hordeum glaucum) biotype. Physiologia Plantarum 99:255-262.

Hastings, M.S. and J.M. DiTomaso. 1996. The use of fire for yellow starthistle (Centaruea solstitialis) management and the restoration of native grasslands at Sugarloaf Ridge State Park. Proceedings of the California Weed Science Society 48:114-119.

DiTomaso, J.M. 1996. Wild blackberries. Pest Notes, Publication 7434.

Uva, R.H., J.C. Neal, and J.M. DiTomaso. 1997. Guide to the Weeds of the Northeastern United States. Cornell University Press.

Chammas, G.A., J.L. Hutson, J.J. Hart, and J.M. DiTomaso. 1997. Microscale three dimensional spatial variability of atrazine and chloride leaching under field conditions. Weed Technology (11:98-104)

DiTomaso, J.M. and W.T. Lanini. 1996. Poison oak. Pest Notes (32:1-4)

Lasat, M., J.J. Hart, J.M. DiTomaso. 1996. Resistance to paraquat in wall barley (Hordeum glaucum Steud.) is temperature-dependent and not associated with enhanced apoplasmic binding. Weed Research (36:303-309

Lanini, W.T., C.D. Thomsen, T.S. Prather, C.E. Turner, J.M. DiTomaso, M.J. Smith, C.L. Elmore, M.P. Vayssieres, and W.A. Williams. 1995. Yellow starthistle. Pest Notes 3:1-4.

DiTomaso, J.M. 1995. Approaches for improving crop competitiveness through the manipulation of fertilization strategies. Weed Science 43:491-497

DiTomaso, J.M. 1994. List of plants reported to be poisonous to animals in the United States. Veterinary and Human Toxicology 36:49-52

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Gale Perez
Program Representative
UC Weed Research and Information Center

Phone: (530) 752-1748
Fax: (530) 752-4604
email: gperez@ucdavis.edu

Professional Experience

Gale began her UC career in 1987 at the Cooperative Extension: Entomology office with Shirley Humphrey, Eric Mussen, Vernon Burton, and Russell Fontaine. She managed the registration process for the UC Pest Management Seminars. With the reorganization, the UC Pest Management Seminars and Gale were relocated to the Statewide IPM Program and were under the supervision of Pat O’Connor-Marer. Gale has traveled as far north to Klamath Falls and Tulelake and as far south to Holtville and San Diego working with farm advisors and specialists to provide continuing education to pest control advisers. For the next 15 years, Gale continued working with O’Connor-Marer and his Pesticide Safety Education Program.

In the Fall of 2004, Gale moved on to work at the UC Davis Extension’s International Law Programs unit. She oversaw the logistics and registration process of three summer programs for lawyers, judges, and other legal professionals from other countries.

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