D. E. Akin, Histological and physical factors affecting digestibility of forages, Agron. J, vol.81, pp.17-25, 1989.

N. Beaudoin, D. Denys, J. C. Muller, and M. D. Monbrun, Influence d'une culture de luzerne sur le lessivage du nitrate dans les sols de Champagne crayeuse, Fourrages, vol.129, pp.45-57, 1992.
URL : https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-02708657

D. R. Buxton, J. S. Hornstein, and G. C. Marten, Genetic variation for forage quality of alfalfa stems, Can. J. Plant Sci, vol.67, pp.1057-1067, 1987.

M. L. Crochemore, C. Huyghe, M. C. Kerlan, F. Durand, and B. Julier, Partitioning and distribution of RAPD variation in the Medicago sativa complex, Agronomie, vol.16, pp.421-432, 1996.
URL : https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00885806

M. L. Crochemore, C. Huyghe, C. Ecalle, and B. Julier, Structuration of alfalfa genetic diversity using agronomic and morphological characteristics. Relationship with RAPD markers, Agronomie, vol.18, pp.79-94, 1998.
URL : https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00885872

C. Demarquilly and R. Jarrige, Panorama des méthodes de prévision de la digestibilité et de la valeur énergétique des fourrages, Prévision de la valeur nutritive des aliments des ruminants, pp.41-59, 1981.

J. C. Emile, Y. Barrière, and M. Mauriès, Effects of maize and alfalfa genotypes evaluated from experiments with dairy cows, Ann. Zootech, vol.45, pp.17-27, 1996.

J. C. Emile, M. Mauriès, G. Allard, and P. Guy, Genetic variation in the feeding value of alfalfa genotypes evaluated from experiments with dairy cows, Agronomie, vol.17, pp.119-125, 1997.
URL : https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00885831

H. K. Goering and P. J. Van-soest, Forage fiber analyses (apparatus, reagents, procedures, and some applications), USDA Agric. Handbook 379, 1970.

F. Guines, Bases génétiques des variations pour la structure histologique des tiges de luzerne, vol.99, 2002.

F. Guines, B. Julier, C. Ecalle, and C. Huyghe, Genetic control of quality traits of lucerne (Medicago sativa L.), Aust. J. Agric. Res, vol.53, pp.401-407, 2002.
URL : https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-02673634

F. Guines, B. Julier, C. Ecalle, and C. Huyghe, Among and within-cultivar variability for histological traits of lucerne (Medicago sativa L.) stem, Euphytica, 2003.
URL : https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-02675867

R. D. Hatfield and P. J. Weimer, Degradation characteristics of isolated and in situ cell all lucerne pectic polysaccharides by mixed microbes, J. Sci. Food Agric, vol.69, pp.185-196, 1995.

E. Jenczewski, J. M. Prosperi, and J. Ronfort, Evidence for gene flow between wild and cultivated Medicago sativa (Leguminosae) based on allozyme markers and quantitative traits, Am. J. Bot, vol.86, pp.677-687, 1999.
URL : https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-02693964

E. Jenczewski, J. M. Prosperi, and J. Ronfort, Differentiation between natural and cultivated populations of Medicago sativa (Leguminosae) from Spain: analysis with random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers and comparison to allozymes, Mol. Ecol, vol.8, pp.1317-1330, 1999.
URL : https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-02697783

B. Julier and C. Huyghe, Effect of growth and cultivar on alfalfa digestibility in a multi-site trial, Agronomie, vol.17, pp.481-489, 1997.
URL : https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00885860

B. Julier and C. Huyghe, Variabilité génétique pour la digestibilité de la luzerne: relation avec la production de matière sèche et la proportion de feuilles, Fourrages, vol.154, pp.261-268, 1998.

B. Julier, P. Guy, C. Castillo-acuna, G. Caubel, C. Ecalle et al., Genetic variation for disease and nematode resistance and forage quality in perennial diploid and tetraploid lucerne populations (Medicago sativa L.), Euphytica, vol.91, pp.241-250, 1996.

B. Julier, M. Lila, V. Furstoss, V. Travers, and C. Huyghe, Measurement of cell-wall digestibility in lucerne using the filter bag technique, Anim. Feed Sci. Technol, vol.79, pp.239-245, 1999.
URL : https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-02691865

B. Julier, C. Ecalle, and C. Huyghe, Potential for including the digestibility in breeding of alfalfa, Proc. XIII Eucarpia Medicago spp Group Meeting, pp.125-133, 1999.
URL : https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-02765915

B. Julier, C. Huyghe, and C. Ecalle, Within-and among-cultivar genetic variation in alfalfa : forage quality, morphology and yield, Crop Science, vol.40, pp.365-369, 2000.
URL : https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-02695418

B. Julier, J. C. Emile, M. Lila, and C. Huyghe, Phenotypic variation for in sacco dry matter and fibre degradation kinetics in lucerne, Aust. J. Agric. Res, vol.52, pp.439-445, 2001.
URL : https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-02674760

E. Justes, P. Thiébeau, G. Cattin, D. Larbre, and B. Nicolardot, Libération d'azote après retournement. Un effet sur deux campagnes, Perspectives Agricoles, vol.264, pp.22-28, 2001.

E. Justes, P. Thiébeau, and B. Nicolardot, An improved breeding strategy for autotetraploid alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.), N release from lucerne residues: comparison of field and incubation data, 11th Nitrogen Workshop, vol.123, pp.139-146, 2001.

G. Lemaire and J. M. Allirand, Relation entre croissance et qualité de la luzerne : interaction génotype -mode d'exploitation, Fourrages, vol.134, pp.183-198, 1993.

A. W. Lenssen, E. L. Sorensen, G. L. Posler, and L. H. Harbers, Basic alfalfa germplasms differ in nutritive content of forage, Crop Sci, vol.31, pp.293-296, 1991.

M. Lila, Y. Barrière, and R. Traineau, Mise au point et étude d'un test enzymatique de la digestibilité de fourrages pauvres ou riches en amidon, Agronomie, vol.6, pp.285-291, 1986.

C. C. Sheaffer, M. A. Peterson, M. Mccaslin, J. J. Volenec, J. H. Cherney et al., Acid detergent fiber, neutral detergent fiber concentration, and relative feed value, p.6, 1995.

C. C. Sheaffer, D. Cash, N. J. Ehlke, J. C. Henning, J. G. Jewett et al., Entry x environment interactions for alfalfa forage quality, Agron. J, vol.90, pp.774-780, 1998.

J. S. Shenk and F. C. Elliott, Two cycles of directional selection for improved nutritive value of alfalfa, Crop Sci, vol.10, pp.710-712, 1970.

P. Thiébeau, E. Justes, and P. Vanloot, Filière luzerne en France -des atouts en faveur de l'environnement, Perspectives Agricoles, vol.266, pp.32-36, 2001.

C. Vallet, J. R. Wilson, and D. R. Mertens, Analyses des relations entre la croissance et la structure des parois des tiges de luzerne, Crop Sci, vol.35, pp.251-259, 1995.