Abstract:Axillary buds and aseptic adventitious buds of vetiver （Vetiveria zizanioides （L.） Nash） were used as explants to investigate the factors that affected somatic embryogenesis and plant generation. The explants were cultured on MS medium supplemented with 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid （2,4-D） or and 6-benzyladenine （6-BA）. The results showed the explants could regenerate via somatic embryogenesis when the medium contained only 2,4-D without or with little content of 6-BA. Callus induction frequency in different cultivars was significantly varied, eg:cv. Zomba had highest induction frequency, up to 96.7%, but cv. Malaysia the lowest, less than 30%, whereas that in cv. Kandy and cv. Sunshine was almost the same. Regeneration ability in embryonic calli could be maintained for a long time, the regeneration frequency being still over 80%, regardless of subculture times from 0 to 23.The differentiation ability of embryonic calli was inhibited at temperature of 3-7 ℃, under which only 40.5%-50.0% of them could regenerate.