The Fiber Properties of Solanum dulcamara L. (Solanaceae) and Genista tinctoria L. (Fabaceae) Stem Wood and Bark: An evaluation for paper production

Paper is crucial to any country's social, economic, and environmental growth. Alternative fiber sources for paper production have emerged as important non-traditional supply sources due to rising demand for fiber raw materials, a global tree crisis, and growing awareness of sustainability. This study evaluates the morphological properties of fibers obtained from the stem wood and stem bark of Solanum dulcamara and Genista tinctoria in order to investigate environmentally sustainable and renewable non-wood fiber sources. The lengths, widths, lumen widths and wall thicknesses of the fibers, as well as slenderness ratio, flexibility coefficient and Runkel ratio were determined. It was determined that the bark samples of both species had longer, thicker-walled and narrower lumen fibers than the wood samples. The findings show that these two plant species can be evaluated as natural fiber sources. The potential they offer as alternative raw materials has been identified, particularly in paper production and biocomposites.