Somatic embryogenesis (SE) and plantlet regeneration were compared in a dormant and non-dormant indica rice variety. MS and N6 media were used both for callus induction and plantlet regeneration. Both MS and N6 media emerged appropriate in facilitating increased somatic embryogenesis (%) but MS found to be better for plantlet regeneration (%). In MS, calli from individual seeds in IR64 and Swarna produced 4-9 plantlets and 2-

5 plantlets, respectively, whereas, in N6 more calli appeared with no plantlet regeneration. Generation of somatic embryos from embryogenic calli is an important event since it is one of the best target tissue for undertaking rice transformation to integrate alien gene/s in rice plants.