Abstract:Immature cotyledons of cowpea (Vigna sinensis Endlo) were used for protoplast isolation. Enzyme solution for protoplast isolation contained 40% cellulase Onozuka R-10,0.30% Macerozyme R-10 and 2% hemicellulase. The purified protoplasts were cultured in Bs,MS or KM8p liquid medium in dark (25℃) at a density of 1 × 105–5 × 105/ml. The protoplasts started cell division in 3–5 days . Sustained cell divisions resulted ill formation of cell clusters and small calli,with cell division frequency reaching 23%–28% in MS medium . Calli of 2 mm in size were transferred onto MSB (MS salts+B5 vitamins) medium with 2 mg/L 2,4-D, 0. 5mg /L BA forfurther growth. Embryogenic calli appeared on this medium. After passage to fresh medium with the same composition, the embryogenic calli were transferred into MSB liquid medium to establish suspension culture. When the suspended calli were transferred back onto MSB agar medium with 0. 1 mg /L IAA, 0.5mg/L KT, 5% mannitol (cultured in light,2000 lx,12h/d), a lot of adventitious roots formed in 7–10 days, and then somatic embryos formed from the protoplast derived calli. But only a few embryoids developed further into the cotyledonary stage ,and the others died at globular, heart-shaped, or torpeto stage . Finally, some cotyledonary embryoids germinated and developed into plantlets or shoots with leaves.