Four cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L). Walp] genotypes; IT 82E-18, IT 82E-16, Pinkeye Purple Hull, and Coronet were tested for somatic embryo formation and embryogenesis. Explants were 3-week-old cotyledons from which the embryonic axes were removed. Cotyledons were cultured in eight media combinations representing modifications of two media, one containing Murashige and Skoog Basal salt with B5 vitamins (MSB), 500 mg/L casein-hydrolysate (CS), 500 mg/L sodium chloride, 3% sucrose, 0.7% agar, 2mg/L 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) and 0.5 mg/L benzylamino purine, and the other containing (MSB), 3% sucrose, 40 mg/L 2-4-D and 0.2% gellan gum. After 1 month, 40% to 100% of explants produced calli and few produced shoots. Subcultured shoots in MS with 0.1 mg/L indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) or with IBA and 0.5mg/L kinetin (KT) failed to produced roots. The only green cotyledonary stage embryo was produced on this latter medium. Subculture of calli in MSB containing CS, mannitol, sucrose, agar, indoleacetic acid, and KT produced cream-colored globular embryos, roots, and a few leaves.