Morphological and molecular characterization of interspecific hybrids of kenaf (Hibiscus cannabinus L.) and false roselle (H. acetosella Welw. ex Hiern)

Interspecific hybrids of kenaf (Hibiscus cannabinus) and allotetraploid wild relative H. acetosella were produced in order to introgress desirable traits from wild to cultivated species. Hybrid seed was obtained using either species as pollen donor.The hybrid plants were of intermediate type, with similar morphological features. Molecular characterization using SSR and ISSR markers exhibited high diversity among hybrid plants and could clearly distinguish hybrids from parents. Both ISSR and SSR markers were efficient for hybrid identification and species discrimination.Mean resolving power of the ISSR primers was higher (0.44) compared to SSR markers (0.34), whereas SSR markers exhibited higher allele polymorphism. Cluster analysis and principal component analysis revealed that hybrids formed distinct groups and exhibited high genetic diversity.