Xylem and Bast Fiber Properties of Six Iranian Hemp Population

Natural, renewable, biodegradable and low pollution hemp fibers are an alternative to trees xylem and artificial fibers. In this study, xylem and bast fiber properties of six Iranian hemp populations including length, width, wall thickness, lumen width and wall index were measured and compared. To this purpose, collected population seeds from different parts of Iran were nursed in a controlled greenhouse conditions. After the growing season, plant stems with root were removed from soil pots and roots, branches and leaves were cut with a knife and the stems were stored in the warehouse to dry at room temperature. Then, xylem and bark fibers were separated with a knife and macerated. The results showed that in xylem fibers, except for fiber width and lumen width, other properties at the 5% and in bark fibers, all properties at the 1% level were significantly different. Also, all properties of xylem and bark fibers at the 1% level were significantly different from each other which mean a high diversity in Cannabis populations from Iran. Finally, index populations of each property were specified and proposed for appropriate industrial usage and Sirjan, Kerman, Kashan and Arak populations due to having the highest measured properties were introduced as possible high potential fiber populations for further investigation.