A method for the regeneration of a cotton plant from somatic cells. The method comprises providing a cotton explant, culturing the explant in a callus growth medium supplemented with glucose as a primary carbon source until the secretion of phenolic compounds has ceased and undifferentiated callus is formed from the explant and culturing the undifferentiated callus in callus growth medium supplemented with sucrose as a primary carbon source until embryogenic callus is formed from the callus.