Abstract: Somatic embryos were induced from cotyledon explants cultured on Murashige and Skoog
(MS) medium supplemented with 1.0 mg·L^-1 2, 4-D after two weeks of culture. Embryogenic callus prolif
erated p rofusely on MS medium containing 0.2 mg·L^-1 2, 4-D. Somatic embryosmatured on N₆ medium and
developed into p lantlets by culturing the mature somatic embryos on 1/2 MS medium containing 0.1 mg·L^-1
indole-3-butyric acid. Section and microscop ic observation of different developmental stages revealed that so
matic embryogenesis was similar to that of the zygotic embryo. It originated from a single embryogenic cell,
which had bigger nuclei, thick cytop lasm, clear nucleoli and denser order. The embryogenic cell first divided
into two-celled stage proembryo, then three- or four-celled stage proembryo. Three- or four-celled stage pro
embryo developed into multicellular proembryo, then developed into mature somatic embryo.

Key words: Eruca sativa, Somatic embryos, Histological