The future role of forage legumes in the Mediterranean climatic areas.

In areas of the world with a Mediterranean-type climate, forage and pasture legumes are a basic component of production systems. The Mediterranean basin is not only the centre of origin and primary diversity of the almost all pasture and forage legumes, but also the current and future world source of their genetic resources. New varieties of legumes have been released in Mediterranean basin countries, and, in southern Australia, the presence of environmental, economic and biological constrains has led to a novel generation of "alternative" pasture legumes, with an increasing attention for perennials. As well as, for traditional use, many pasture and forage legumes are being exploited for other purposes. Legumes can be specifically used in firebreak lines; in sylvopastoral systems; in organic agriculture; as cover crops in cropping systems, vineyards, orchards; and for other agronomic and environmental purposes. Pharmaceutical and medicinal uses are also being explored. In this chapter, new germplasm options of Mediterranean forage legumes and their future role are discussed in relation to constraints and recent perspectives, dealing with seed multiplication, valorisation of legume germplasm, aspects of legume-Rhizobium symbiosis, forage quality and bioactive compounds.