[Objective] The aim was to study the genetic diversities between Xiaogan water chestnut and wild chestnut with randomly amplified polymorphic DNA （RAPD） technology. [Method] Genetic diversities of the local cultivated water chestnut,wild chestnut,Lepironia articulata and Scirpus planiculmis Fr. Schmidt were analyzed by RAPD technology. [Result] Among the screened random primers 841,842,807 and 840,the polymorphism of amplification product of 841 was evident,and the obtained bands in electrophoresis were clear and showed good repeatability. Cluster analysis result showed that the affinity of cultivated water chestnut and wild water chestnut was nearer than that between Lepironia articulata and Scirpus planiculmis. [Conclusion] The research provides theoretical basis for cultivating high-quality new varieties of water chestnut.
