Seeds of Ariocarpus retusus Scheidw. were germinated under sterile conditions on solid Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium containing 20 g/1 sucrose and 20% (v/v) coconut water. The seedlings produced callus on the same medium, and after 3–4 months the first somatic embryo appeared. However, massive production of pale yellow somatic embryos started only after 14–16 months of culture. Calli were subcultured on to fresh medium every eight weeks. For subculture, the same medium was used but with only 15% (v./v) coconut water. For further growth, somatic embryos were placed on hormone-free MS medium or Schenk & Hildebrandt (SH) medium. The seedlings could then be grafted on Pereskiopsis velutina for further development.