On the identification of some Galeopsis spp. (Lamiaceae) in connection with filling up the database of weeds in wheat and flax crops in the Middle Volga region

Background. Presented here are the results of a comprehensive work to increase the reliability of the botanical information entered in the database of weeds in wheat and flax crops in the Middle Volga region for ensuring the regional export potential, developed at the All-Russian Plant Quarantine Center. The accuracy of botanical data is often associated with identification problems. The target materials were Galeopsis spp. (G. ladanum, G. bifida, G. tetrahit, and G. speciosa) regulated by the phytosanitary requirements of the countries importing Russian crop production, growing in local agrocenoses, and whose fruits occur in grain harvests. Materials and methods. The existing keys and descriptions were analyzed. Holdings of the leading Russian collections were reviewed. Plant samples were collected in segetal and urbanized habitats of Penza Province and Primorsky Territory in 2020– 2022. Light and scanning electron microscopy techniques were applied in the search for stable anatomical and morphological features for reliable identification. Results. It was established that G. ladanum in its natural environment could be precisely identified using herbarium and carpological specimens. The remaining Galeopsis spp. were successfully identifiable to the species rank only from their herbarium specimens or in their natural habitat. Their carpological samples cannot be reliably distinguished from each other by the available anatomical and morphological macro- and microtraits. Conclusion. The developed keys were tested in the study of 196 wheat and flax crops in Penza and Samara Provinces and the contamination in 1269 samples of finished products. The obtained results served as the material for filling up the database of weeds in wheat and flax crops in the Middle Volga region for ensuring the regional export potential. Due to the difficulties in identifying erems of three Galeopsis spp., it is proposed to enter data not only in the rank of the species, but also in the rank of the subgenus.