Variation in forage quality and chemical composition among Italian accessions of Bituminaria bituminosa (L.) Stirt.

Native Bituminaria bituminosa (L.) Stirt. accessions from central and southern Italy were evaluated for chemical composition to assess their nutritional value as forages. The germplasm was evaluated subjectively ex situ for intensity of ‘oil’ smell and analysed for fibre fraction, crude protein and water-soluble carbohydrate contents as well as furanocoumarin (psoralen and angelicin) concentration. Total phenolics and their antioxidant activity were also evaluated. The quality parameters indicated this species as a good forage source, showing nutritive values similar to those of other wild legume species. Psoralen and angelicin contents ranged from 2.8 to 5.4 and from 2.3 to 4.7 mg g−1 dry weight respectively, while total phenolic concentrations were between 11.2 and 13.5 mg g−1 dry weight. Correlations among forage quality parameters, chemical components and climatic features at sites of origin were also assessed.