Abstract
This review presents the main results of the INRA ACCAF-Climagie project pertaining to intra- and interspecific variability in climate-related responses in the most common perennial C3 forage species. More specifically, the project examined (1) how germination and growth are affected by temperature and (2) how plants escape from drought (via early ear emergence) or tolerate drought conditions (via summer dormancy and fructan accumulation). The results underscore two major reasons for studying Mediterranean natives. First, relevant model species may reveal how well intraspecific variability will allow plants to deal with increased stress levels. Second, such species provide valuable genetic resources that should be included in breeding programs, which have thus far focused on temperate species. The ultimate goal is to create productive and marketable cultivars that display a range of adaptive responses to climate change.