Plant Pest Diagnostics Center
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Jim EffenbergerSenior Seed Botanist (Specialist) Plant Pest Diagnostics Branch, California Department of Food & Agriculture
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Curriculum vitae
EDUCATION
- Bachelor of Arts (Botany) - 1970, Central Washington University, Ellensburg, Washington.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
- 2001- present- Senior Seed Botanist, CDFA, Plant Pest Diagnostics, Sacramento, CA.
- 1984- 2001- Associate Seed Botanist, CDFA, Plant Pest Diagnostics, Sacramento, CA.
- 1982-1984- Seed Botanist II, CDFA, Sacramento, CA.
- 1972-1982- Botanist, USDA, Street Sacramento, CA.
- Graduate Assistantship, Seed Technology, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, 1970-1972. Major professor Dr. Leroy Everson.
PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATIONS
- 2001- International Seed Technologist (IST), awarded by the International Society of Seed Technologists.
- 1998- Registered Seed Technologist (RST), awarded by the Society of Commercial Seed Technologists.
- 1985- Certified Seed Analyst (CSA P&G), awarded by the Association of Official Seed Analysts.
AREAS OF SPECIALIZATION
- Perform highly complex and specialized analyses on seed taxonomic problems.
- Identify native and foreign plant propagules on a worldwide basis.
- Conduct training workshops for seed analysts.
PUBLICATIONS
- Meyer, D. J. L., and J. Effenberger. 2004. Comparison of Purity Testing Methods of Weeping Alkaligrass (Puccinellia distans (Jacq.) Parl.). Seed Technology 26(1):17-26.
- Effenberger, J. 2001. Physical Purity Testing. Chapter 7, pp.1-31. In: McDonald, M., Gutormson, T., and Turnipseed, B. (eds.), Seed Technologists Training Manual. Society of Commercial Seed Technologists, Ithaca. NY., vii + 426 pp.
- Effenberger, J. 2001.Challenges Facing a Traditional Seed Analyst. Seed Technology 23(1):7-14.
- Effenberger, J. (ed.). 1994. Rules For Testing Seeds. Journal of Seed Technology 16 (3): ii +113.
- Effenberger, J., B. Brown, D. L. Meyer and P. Peterson. 1990. Seed Testing: The Vegetable Seed Perspective. Journal of Seed Technology 14(2): 138-140.
- Effenberger, J. M. and D. J. L. Meyer. 1986. Taxonomic Characteristics of Some Noxious Weed Propagules of the Poaceae in California. Official Proceedings of the Thirty-Fourth Annual Meeting of the American Association of Feed Microscopists 22-25.
PRESENTATIONS
- 2004- Navigating the Seed Testing Network. California Seed Industry Conference, Woodland CA.
- 2000- Promoting Professionalism In Seed Analysis. 90th Annual Meeting of AOSA/SCST, Iowa State University, Ames Iowa.
- 1999- Seed Laboratory Testing Methods for California Native Grasses. California Native Grass Society Annual Meeting, Napa, CA.
- 1990- Seed Testing The Vegetable Seed Perspective. 79th Annual Meeting of AOSA /SCST Peoria, IL.
- 1987- CDFA Seed Laboratory Testing Methods. California Seed Industry Conference, Woodland, CA.
- 1986- Taxonomic characteristics of California Noxious Weed Propagules. 34th Annual Meeting of the American Association of Feed Microscopists, Sacramento, CA.
PRINTED INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIAL
- 2006- Meyer, D. J. L. and J. Effenberger. California Noxious Weed Pest Propagules. Plant Pest Diagnostics Center, Calif. Dept. of Food & Agriculture.
- 2006- Effenberger, J., D. J. L. Meyer and J. Naughton. Allium Seeds of ISTA. Plant Pest Diagnostics Center, Calif. Dept. of Food & Agriculture.
- 2006- Meyer, D. J. L. and J. Effenberger. Seed Descriptions of Trifolium species in the AOSA Rules. Plant Pest Diagnostics Center, Calif. Dept. of Food & Agriculture.
- 2006- Meyer, D. J. L. and J. M. Effenberger. Seed and Fruit Descriptions of Selected Kummerowia, Lespedeza, Lotus, Medicago, and Melilotus. Plant Pest Diagnostics Center, Calif. Dept. of Food & Agriculture.
- 2005- Meyer, D. J. L. and J. M. Effenberger. Identification of Large-seeded Members of the Subfamily Faboideae (Fabaceae). Plant Pest Diagnostics Center, Calif. Dept. of Food & Agriculture.
- 2005- Meyer, D. J. L. and J. Effenberger. Seed and Fruit Characters in Brassicaceae Crops Other Than Brassica and Sinapis. Plant Pest Diagnostics Center, Calif. Dept. of Food & Agriculture.
- 2005- Effenberger, J. and D. J. L. Meyer. Factors affecting Brassica and Sinapis Identification. Plant Pest Diagnostics Center, Calif. Dept. of Food & Agriculture.
- 2005- Effenberger, J. and D. J. L. Meyer. A Basic Guide for Wheatgrass Identification. Plant Pest Diagnostics Center, Calif. Dept. of Food & Agriculture.
- 2004- Meyer, D. J. L. and J. Effenberger. Seed Identification Workshop Manuals. Plant Pest Diagnostics Center, Calif. Dept. of Food & Agriculture.
- 2004- Meyer, D. J. L. and J. M. Effenberger. Identification of Large-seeded Fabaceae. Plant Pest Diagnostics Center, Calif. Dept. of Food & Agriculture.
- 2004- Meyer, D. J. L. and J. Effenberger. Small-Seeded Weedy Grasses. Plant Pest Diagnostics Center, Calif. Dept. of Food & Agriculture.
- 2004- Meyer, D. J. L. and J. Effenberger. Noxious Weeds and Lesser-Known Crop Members of the Fabaceae. Plant Pest Diagnostics Center, Calif. Dept. of Food & Agriculture.
- 2003- Meyer, D. J. L. and J. Effenberger. Scrophulariaceae Seed Identification. Plant Pest Diagnostics Center, Calif. Dept. of Food & Agriculture.
- 2003- Ramos, E., C. Weiner, M. Stephenson, S. Roberts, D. J. L. Meyer and J. Effenberger. Cotton Seed Quality Applying Seed Testing Tools. Plant Pest Diagnostics Center, Calif. Dept. of Food & Agriculture.
- 2002- Effenberger, J. and D. J. L. Meyer. A Basic Guide for Wheatgrass Identification. Plant Pest Diagnostics Center, Calif. Dept. of Food & Agriculture.
- 2002- Meyer, D. J. L. and J. Effenberger. Identification of Miscellaneous Solanaceae Seed. Plant Pest Diagnostics Center, Calif. Dept. of Food & Agriculture.
- 2002- Meyer, D. J. L. and J. M. Effenberger. Identification of Lamiaceae Nutlets. Plant Pest Diagnostics Center, Calif. Dept. of Food & Agriculture.
- 2001- Meyer, D. J. L. and J. Effenberger. Identification of Poaceae Seed Units: Aegilops, Alopecurus, Phalaris, Setaria, Panicum, Urochloa. Plant Pest Diagnostics Center, Calif. Dept. of Food & Agriculture.
- 2001- Meyer, D. J. L. and J. Effenberger. Identification of Polygonaceae Seed Units. Plant Pest Diagnostics Center, Calif. Dept. of Food & Agriculture.
- 2000- Effenberger, J. Annual Fescues Vulpia. Plant Pest Diagnostics Center, Calif. Dept. of Food & Agriculture.
- 2000- Effenberger, J. Brassica. Plant Pest Diagnostics Center, Calif. Dept. of Food & Agriculture.
- 1999- Meyer, D. J. L. and J. M. Effenberger. Identification of Large-seeded Fabaceae. Plant Pest Diagnostics Center, Calif. Dept. of Food & Agriculture.
- 1999- Meyer, D. J. L. and J. M. Effenberger. Descriptions of Selected Small-Seeded Legumes. Plant Pest Diagnostics Center, Calif. Dept. of Food & Agriculture.
- 1998- Meyer, D. J. L. and J. M. Effenberger. Botany, a Brief Introduction for Purity Analysts. Plant Pest Diagnostics Center, Calif. Dept. of Food & Agriculture.
- 1997- Effenberger, J. M. and D. J. Tilley. Identification of Allium Seeds and Bulblets. Plant Pest Diagnostics Center, Calif. Dept. of Food & Agriculture.
- 1997- Effenberger, J. M. and D. J. Tilley. Identification of Certain Brassica and Sinapis by Their Seeds. Plant Pest Diagnostics Center, Calif. Dept. of Food & Agriculture. , J
- 1994- Effenberger, J. M.. (contributor). Agricultural Commodity Identification Aid. California Department of Food and Agriculture.
SEED WORKSHOP INSTRUCTOR
- 2006- Plant Pest Diagnostics Center, Sacramento, CA. Lecture and laboratory practical on: Allium seed identification.
- 2006- California Agricultural Inspection Stations. Lecture on California Noxious Weed Pest Propagules.
- 2005- Plant Pest Diagnostics Center, Sacramento, CA. Lecture and laboratory practical on: Identification of Brassica, Sinapis seeds and Wheatgrass florets.
- 2004- Plant Pest Diagnostics Center, Sacramento, CA. Lecture and laboratory practical on: Identification of small-seeded weedy Poaceae.
- 2003- Plant Pest Diagnostics Center, Sacramento, CA. Lecture and laboratory practical on: Purity testing of Gossypium spp.
- 2002- Plant Pest Diagnostics Center, Sacramento, CA. Lecture and laboratory practical on: Identification of Wheatgrass florets.
- 2001- Sakata Seed America, Morgan Hill, CA. Lecture and laboratory practical on: Identification of Polygonum, Fallopia, Rumex, Emex, Fagopyrum, and Federal Noxious Weed Seeds.
- 2000- Santa Barbara City College, Santa Barbara, CA. Lecture and laboratory practical on: Identification of Vulpia, Festuca, and Brassica.
- 1999- California State University, Fresno, CA. Lecture and laboratory practical on: Identification of noxious weed seeds and similar other species.
- 1998- University of California Davis, CA. Lecture and laboratory practical on: General seed botany.
- 1997- California State University, Fresno, CA. Lecture and laboratory practical on: Identification of Allium and Brassica species.
- 1997- Southern Idaho Collage, Twin Falls, ID. Lecture and laboratory practical on: Identification of Brassica species.
- 1996- California State University, Fresno, CA. Lecture and laboratory practical on: Identification of noxious weed seeds.
- 1994- Gavilan College, Gilroy, CA. Lecture and laboratory practical on: Identification of noxious weed seeds.
- 1993- Petoseed Company, Saticoy, CA. Lecture and laboratory practical on: Testing of coated seeds.
- 1992- Carpinteria. CA. Lecture and laboratory practical on: Identification of Brassica and Eriogonum species.
- 1991- Gavilan College, GiIroy, CA. Lecture and laboratory practical on: Identification of Allium species.
- 1986- CDFA Seed Laboratory, Sacramento, CA. Lecture and laboratory practical on: Identification of crop and flower seed.
- 1986- Sacramento City College, Sacramento, CA. Lecture and laboratory practical on: Identification of weed seeds.
- 1985- Southern Idaho College, Twin Falls, ID. Lecture and laboratory practical on: Identification of Agropyron species.
- 1984- Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR. Lecture and laboratory practical on: Identification Avena fatua..
- 1983- CDFA Seed Laboratory, Sacramento, CA. Lecture and laboratory practical on: Purity testing protocols.
- 1980- Southern Idaho College, Twin Falls, ID. Lecture and laboratory practical on: Identification of Brassica species.
- 1979- USDA Seed Laboratory, Sacramento, CA. Lecture and laboratory practical on: Identification of Agrostis species.
- 1978- Southern Idaho College, Twin Falls, ID. Lecture and laboratory practical on: Identification of Agropyron and germination of Phaseolus species.
- 1977- USDA Seed Laboratory, Sacramento, CA. Lecture and laboratory practical on: Identification of Brassica and germination of Poa species.
- 1976- Southern Idaho College, Twin Falls, ID. Lecture and laboratory practical on: Identification of Federal Noxious weed seeds.
- 1975- USDA Seed Laboratory, Sacramento, CA. Lecture and laboratory practical on: Germination of Zea mays and Tetragonia tetragonioides.
- 1974- Oregon State University, CorvalIis, OR. Lecture and laboratory practical on: Tetrazolium testing of Lolium species.
NATIONAL COMMITTEES
- 2004- Present- SCST Ethics Committee Chair.
- 1998- Present- AOSA Bylaws Committee Chair.
- 1993- Present- Member AOSA Purity subcommittee.
- 1996- International Group Leader ISTA Germination Committee.
- 1991- 1995- AOSA Research Funding Committee Ex officio member.
- 1991- 1995- AOSA Rules Committee Chair.
- 1986- 1990 AOSA Uniformity subcommittee Chair.
NATIONAL COMMITTEE REPORTS
- 2006- Effenberger, J. (Chair). SCST Ethics Committee. AOSA/SCST Proceedings, 83rd Annual Meeting p.40.
- 2005- Effenberger, J. (Chair). AOSA Bylaws Committee. AOSA/SCST Proceedings, 95th Annual Meeting p.27-33.
- 2005- Effenberger, J. (Chair). SCST Ethics Committee. AOSA/SCST Proceedings, 82nd Annual Meeting p.46-47.
- 2004- Effenberger, J. (Chair). SCST Ethics Committee. AOSA/SCST Proceedings, 81st Annual Meeting p.84.
- 2004- Effenberger, J. (Chair). AOSA Bylaws Committee. AOSA/SCST Proceedings, 94th Annual Meeting p.38-51.
- 2003- Effenberger, J. (Chair). AOSA Bylaws Committee. AOSA/SCST Proceedings, 93rd Annual Meeting p.39-57.
- 2002- Effenberger, J. (Chair). AOSA Bylaws Committee. AOSA/SCST Proceedings, 92nd Annual Meeting p.41-58.
- 2001- Effenberger, J. (Chair). AOSA Bylaws Committee. AOSA/SCST Proceedings, 91st Annual Meeting p.23-39.
- 2000- Effenberger, J. (Chair). AOSA Bylaws Committee. AOSA/SCST Proceedings, 90th Annual Meeting p.41-44.
- 1999- Effenberger, J. (Chair). AOSA Bylaws Committee. AOSA/SCST Proceedings, 89th Annual Meeting p.29.
- 1998- Effenberger, J. (Chair). AOSA Bylaws Committee. AOSA/SCST Proceedings, 88th Annual Meeting p.108-171.
- 1995- Effenberger, J. (Chair). Rules Committee. Association of Official Seed Analysts News Letter 9(1):7-34.
- 1994- Effenberger, J. (Chair). Rules Committee. Association of Official Seed Analysts News Letter 68(1):10-29.
- 1990- Effenberger, J. (Chair). Seed Uniformity Subcommittee. Association of Official Seed Analysts News Letter 64(3):78.
- 1989- Effenberger, J. (Chair). Seed Uniformity Subcommittee. Association of Official Seed Analysts News Letter 63(5):65-66.
DISTINCTIONS
- 2002- Anna Lute Award, presented by the Front Range Seed Analysts Association
- 1997- USDA special commendations and appreciation Karnal Bunt Project.
- 1991- CDFA certificate of appreciation Mediterranean Fruit Fly Eradication Project.
- 1990- USDA certificate of appreciation Mediterranean Fruit Fly Eradication Project.
- 1986- American Association of Feed Microscopists honorary lifetime member award.
PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
- Affiliate Member of the Association of Official Seed Analysts (AOSA).
- Registered Member of the Society of Commercial Seed Technologists (SCST).
- Member of the International Society of Seed Technologists (ISST).
- Member of American Association of Feed Microscopists (AAFM).



