In the detached cotyledons of carrot, Daucus carota L., somatic embryogenesis was induced by 2week treatment with sucrose at 0.29-0.73 M both in the epidermal cells (type-1) and the callus-like cells generated at the cut end of the cotyledons (type-2). Type-2 embryos were produced predominantly, after the treatment with 0.29-0.44 M sucrose and type-1 embryos after treatment with 0.58-0.73 M sucrose. Sucrose and glucose were more effective than mannitol and sorbitol for the induction of somatic embryogenesis. Furthermore, both type - 1 and type - 2 embryos were induced by sucrose and glucose, but only type-2 embryos by mannitol and sorbitol. These results suggest that sucrose does not work as a mere osmoticum.