Abs tract: Seven agronomically and genetically different rice (Oryza sativa L.) c u lt iv a rs were compared for their capacity for callus induction and plant regene ra t io n from mature zygotic embryos . W hite embryonic calli were formed within three weeks in the pres ence of 3 mgl 2,4,D . T h e s o matic Giza 178 s howed high regeneration fre q u e ncy (39%) followed by Giza 175 (38%) where the cultivar H1 s howed the lowes t record (24%). The data obtained fro m t h e random amplified polymorphic DNA analys is s howed that a total of 45 DNA markers were detected among the s e v e n ric e cultivars of wh ich, 29 bands were polymorphic (64.4%) and can be cons idered as us eful RA PD markers for th e rice cultivars us ed. Based on the data obtained by RA PD analys is , it was pos s ible to dis c riminate between the different genotyp e s u s e d . Sixteen out of the twenty nine polymorphic RAPD markers generated were found to be genotype-specific. Thes e markers can be verified as being RAPD markers ass ociated with the rege n e ra t io n c a pacity in the s even rice genotypes. Genetic s tability in tis s uecultured rice plants was examined by randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RA PD) an a ly s is . T he genetic s imilarity between the mother and the regenerated plants was hig h fo r Giza 178 (91%) and it w a s 87.5 and 82 for Giza 175 and Sakha 102 respectively. The cultivar Giza 178 proved t o b e a us eful genetic res ource with unique regeneration ability and can be us ed for efficient generation of trans genic rice plants
