Abstract: In order to probe the relationship and genetic diversity of the kenaf(Hibiscus cannabinus)germplasm,32 kenaf varieties from 20 countries were studied,and 22 primers screened from 90 ISSR primers were used to amplify the DNA,from which 13 primers with polymorphic and clear bands were analysized.The results were as follows:(1) 59 bands were amplified based on 13 primers,among which 47 bands were polymorphic,and the percentage of polymorphic bands was 79.66%,which indicated the genetic diversity was correspondingly rich.(2)The 32 kenaf accessions could be classified into two groups at the level of D=0.73:one large group named L_1-1 constituted of 22 cultivars,there antique kinds and there subgroup including 8 wild varieties and 2 antique local species.(3)The 22 cultivars in the first group L_1-1 could be divided into 4 subclasses(I₁,I₂,I₃,I₄) at the level of D=0.77,which had visible regional character.(4)The cluster result indicated that most of the cultivars had small genetic diversity and relationship.It was obvious that the basis of the inheritance of kenaf cultivars were comparatively narrower than the wild species.