Effect of plant development during first and second growth cycle on chemical composition, condensed tannins and nutritive value of three sainfoin (Onobrychis viciifolia) varieties and lucerne

Abstract

Sainfoin (Onobrychis viciifolia) is a temperate legume that contains condensed tannins (CT), i.e., polyphenols that are able to bind proteins and thus reduce protein degradation in the rumen. Few studies have investigated the relation between plant phenology, CT characteristics and nutritive value of sainfoin. In this study we investigated differences among three sainfoin varieties (Esparcette, Ambra and Villahoz) that were of different geographical origin, and which were cultivated at the same site over the course of two growth cycles and compared with a tannin-free legume, lucerne (Aubigny). Plants were harvested on nine dates in the first and four dates in the second growth cycle. Phenological stages were analysed for leaf-to-wholeplant ratio, nitrogen (N), organic matter digestibility (OMd) by the pepsin-cellulase method, cell-wall concentration, N solubility (solN) plus CT concentration, biological activity and structures. Leaf-to-whole-plant, cell-wall concentration, N of sainfoin and lucerne were closely related to the phenological stage. Although sainfoin developed earlier than lucerne, its pepsincellulase digestibility was higher than or close to lucerne. Esparcette had the lowest OMd, N and solN and the highest CT concentration. CT concentration, proportion of prodelphinidins (PD) and mean degree of polymerization (mDP) increased with the phenological stage (or plant maturity), and these parameters were associated with lower biological activity of CT. Sainfoin varieties differed in their relationships between phenological stages, nutritional parameters and CT characteristics. The results demonstrated that sainfoin can be a valuable alternative forage legume to lucerne.

Effects of condensed tannins in wrapped silage bales of sainfoin (Onobrychis viciifolia) on in vivo and in situ digestion in sheep

“…The great differences in in vivo digestibility between end and early flowerings were not only due to the effect of the phenological stage but also due to the vegetation cycle. Theodoridou et al (2011) showed that in a comparison of three fresh sainfoin varieties, studied during the first and second vegetation cycles, at the same phenological stage, pepsin-cellulase digestibility, N content and biological activity of CT were greater at regrowth. Therefore, in our results, the greater OMD at regrowth can be also explained by the effect of the vegetation cycle.…”

Mixing sainfoin and lucerne to improve the feed value of legumes fed to sheep by the effect of condensed tannins

“…The N content decreased faster with the growth stage in sainfoin than in lucerne, probably due to a more rapid change in the leaf-to-stem ratio from the beginning of flowering (Borreani et al, 2003;Bal et al, 2006) in sainfoin than in lucerne (Theodoridou et al, 2011).…”

“…Other beneficial effects of feeding sainfoin forage in association with lucerne, but not studied in this experiment, include a reduction in incidences of bloating (McMahon et al, 1999). More research should be carried out in order to identify other factors related to CT that could lead to variations in the effect of CT on the feed value of forage mixtures (content, structure and biological activity of CT, leaf/stem ratio, variety, preservation method and environmental conditions; Theodoridou et al, 2011 and.…”

Antioxidant Activity, Total Phenolic and Flavonoid Contents of Three Onobrychis Species from Iran

“…[15][16][17] However, there is no reveal any references to previous works on the antioxidant activity of other Onobrychis. The aim of our study is to evaluate in vitro total phenolic content and antioxidant activity of the methanolic extracts from three Onobrychis species (O. sosnovskyi, O. viciifolia and O. melanotricha) and assess any correlations between total phenolic content in the extracts and their antioxidant activities.…”

“…In other studies on O. viciifolia extract by different solvents, the following chemical composition were found: the phenolic glycosides; kaempferol and quercetin, sucrose; the inositol [(+)-pinitol]; L-tryptophan, several flavonol glycosides and a mixture of condensed tannins. [15][16][17]34,35 Ince et al assessed total phenolic acid content of different extracts (methanol, acetone, distillation water and ethyl ethanoate) of O. viciifolia using Folin-Ciocalteu method and reported its amount between 11.35 ± 0.82 to 38.26 ± 0.15 μg Tannic acid/g of dry extract. 17 In the case of the O. viciifolia, the extractable compounds by acetone and methanol solvents had higher yield in comparison with ethyl ethanoate and distillation water solvents.…”