Leaf explants of 4 sugarcane varieties, CoJ 64, CoJ 83, CoJ 84 and CoP 84-211, were cultured on MS medium supplemented with 4 mg 2,4-D, 0.5 mg kinetin and 30 g sucrose/litre. Embryogenic calli was subsequently subcultured onto MS medium containing 0.5 mg benzyladenine and 0.5 mg kinetin/litre. The extent of callus proliferation, somatic embryogenesis and plantlet induction was recorded on different media containing 2 mg abscisic acid, 560 mg proline, 30 g maltose, and 2 and 6 mg 2,4-D/litre. Low auxin concentrations resulted in white, compact embryogenic callus. Maltose and proline gave an increased mass of yellow, compact embryogenic callus. CoJ 64 gave the highest somatic embryo production and all treatments, except 6 mg 2,4-D/litre, showed enhanced regeneration response compared with controls. The best treatment was abscisic acid followed by partial desiccation and proline addition.