Weed flora of cultivated sage (Salvia officinalis L. and Salvia fruticosa Mill.) in Türkiye

This study aimed to identify and characterize the weed flora associated with cultivated sage (Salvia officinalis L. and S. fruticosa Mill.) in Türkiye and to evaluate their diversity and distribution patterns. Understanding weed composition in sage fields is essential for developing sustainable management strategies in medicinal and aromatic plant production systems. The study was conducted in the Mediterranean region of Türkiye, covering sage cultivation areas in the provinces of Antalya, Muğla, and Denizli. Field surveys were carried out in 105 sage fields representing approximately 38 hectares. A systematic sampling method proportional to the field size was used to record weed species. Quantitative analyses included frequency (%) and density (plants/m²). Species richness and diversity were assessed using Simpson and Shannon diversity indices. NMDS, PERMANOVA, and RDA were applied to examine community differences and relationships with environmental variables. A total of 90 weed taxa were identified, comprising 77 dicotyledonous and 13 monocotyledonous species. The most species-rich families were Asteraceae (14 taxa), Poaceae (13 taxa), and Fabaceae (9 taxa). The dominant species were Avena sterilis L. (83%), Convolvulus arvensis L. (62%), and Trifolium pratense L. (60%). Weed diversity was higher in S. officinalis (79 taxa) than in S. fruticosa fields (47 taxa). RDA revealed significant correlations between weed distribution and altitude, soil organic carbon, pH, and texture. This study provides the first comprehensive assessment of weed vegetation in cultivated sage fields in Türkiye, offering valuable insights for integrated weed management and biodiversity conservation in medicinal and aromatic plant agroecosystems.