A study was conducted to determine the genetic variability and patterns of diversity of finger millet (Eleusine coracana) accessions using six ISSR molecular markers. The study consisted of 72 finger millet accessions with variable seed coat colors collected from two zones of the Tigray region. The markers generated 45 loci, 30 of which were polymorphic and 15 of which were monomorphic, for an average of 7.5 loci per primer. The gene diversity (h) indices of the four populations ranged from 0.26 to 0.27 according to their geographical location. When the populations were grouped according to seed coat color, the gene diversity (h) was 0.27 for black-coated seeds and 0.26 for both red- and white-coated seeds. UPGMA cluster analysis revealed that the three types were grouped into three major clusters at the cutoff of 73% genetic similarity. Based on the AMOVA, the variation within populations was greater (98%) than that among populations (2%). The greater dissimilarity between the two samples of genotypes makes them better candidates for inclusion in crop improvement programmes. Since hybrid vigor is positively related to genetic distance, hybridization between these two lines will provide progenies with greater variation at the molecular level for the selection of agronomically important traits.

Keywords: accession, Eleusine coracana, finger millet, genetic diversity, seed coat color, ISSR markers