Abstract. The genetic diversity of 11 local hazelnut varieties (Corylus avellana L.) from Azerbaijan
was assessed using 8 ISSR markers. A total of 48 fragments were amplified from these varieties,
15 of which were polymorphic. Among the primers, UBC 818 exhibited the highest polymorphism
(55.6%), while UBC 812 showed the lowest (10%). Overall, the average polymorphism across the
markers was 32%. Genetic diversity analysis revealed high diversity for UBC 818 primer, while UBC
812 displayed the lowest diversity. The mean GDI for the entire collection was 0.44. The Jaccard
genetic distance index ranged from 0.14 to 0.86. The greatest value was observed between the
Mirzebeyli and Galib, while the Ata-baba and Azeri, as well as the Barli and Azeri, showed the closest
genetic relationships. The dendrogram analysis identified three main clusters. Principal Coordinate
Analysis supported these findings, grouping the varieties into three distinct groups, with Mirzebeyli
being the most genetically distinct. Additionally, molecular fingerprinting revealed unique genetic
profiles for each variety, which can facilitate their identification. The use of more polymorphic
primers could further enhance the accuracy and reliability of these genetic profiles. These results
offer valuable insights for hazelnut breeding programs and contribute to the conservation of these
local varieties.