Agronomic and morphological characterization of Medicago intertexta L. for sustainable forage production in Mediterranean environments

Medicago intertexta L., a self-reseeding annual legume native to the Mediterranean Basin, shows high potential for sustainable forage production in semi-arid environments. This study investigated its presence in Sicilian forage-livestock systems, characterized the morphological variability of a local ecotype ("Monreale"), and evaluated seed yield under two plant densities across two growing seasons. Field surveys confirmed its natural abundance and agronomic value, as farmers recognized its persistence, palatability, and self-regeneration ability. Morphological characterization revealed notable intraspecific diversity, revealing distinct phenotypic groups with different agronomic performance and adaptive traits. Higher seeding density enhanced total seed yield per unit area but reduced individual plant productivity, while climatic variability between years significantly affected performance. The species' strong hardseededness ensures regeneration under adverse conditions, confirming its resilience to Mediterranean climatic stress. Overall, M. intertexta represents a valuable resource for developing low-input and climate-adapted forage systems. Further research should focus on optimizing seeding rates and exploiting morphological variability to select improved cultivars.