To cite this paper: Faruq, G., M.M. Rahman, H. Zabed and A. Latif, 2015. Assessment of genetic variation in different kenaf (Hibiscus cannabinus) genotypes using morpho-agronomic traits and RAPD markers. Abstract Twenty five kenaf (Hibiscus canabinus L.) genotypes originated in different parts of the world were studied in Malaysian tropical environment to assess genetic variation using morpho-agronomic traits and random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers. A total of 13 morpho-agronomic

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... its was selected for study and found that the genotypes varied significantly (p<0.01) in these traits. The major production traits such as stick weight (SW) and fiber weights (FW) were found highly correlated with other traits. Agglomerative hierarchical cluster analysis and principal component analysis (PCA) of the morpho-agronomic traits yielded four major cluster groups of the studied genotypes. The low fiber and stick yield producing early maturing genotypes were in cluster I, middle fiber weight, plant height and matured genotypes were in cluster II, and III and high fiber and stick weight producing late flowering genotypes were in cluster IV PCA of the phenotypic data using covariance matrix revealed that first three components accounted for 97.20% of total variation of the genotypes. The assessment of genetic diversity using RAPD marker revealed high genetic polymorphisms of the makers (7.2) with Jaccard's similarity coefficient of variation from 0.000 to 0.952. These findings of phenotypic and genetic variations in morphoagronomic traits and polymorphism level at DNA expressed the usefulness of these genotypes as parent materials for future improvement in kenaf breeding programs.