Bio-agronomic traits of Psoralea bituminosa and P. morisiana accessions collected in Sardinia

Psoralea genus (Leguminosae) includes some species with promising features as pasture legume in Mediterranean areas prone to drought. Eight Sardinian and 7 Spanish accessions of P. bituminosa were evaluated during 2009-2011. Forage production and its furocoumarin content, seed yield and mass were observed. The total forage yield ranged from 68.4 g DM plant-1 in Loculi to 252.6 g DM plant-1 in Albo-HTolFrio, with the accessions showing differences in the seasonal production also. The 1000 seed weight varied from 15 g in Llano del Beal to 35 g in Monte Gonareddu, while Llano del Beal and Monte Rosello showed the highest seed yield (about 30 g pl-1 year-1). A high variability was observed for furocoumarin content, too. These preliminary results are very encouraging in view of the valorisation of Psoralea as perennial forage legume for marginal rainfed areas.