$Cyclamen$ $persicum$ Mill. (Myrsinaceae ) is one of the most important winter pot flowers in the world. It is commercially propagated via $F_1$-hybrid seeds. Somatic embryogenesis is an efficient method of micropropagation and biotechnological tools for genetic improvement in cyclamen. The effect of initial explants type (leaf and petiole) on callus growth and somatic embryo were studied. Somatic embryos were cultured on modified Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium. Also embryogenic callus was induced on several media containing 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) and kinetin (Kin). The greatest amount of callus was observed in two explants on media containing 1 $mg{cdot}L^{-1}$ 2,4-D + 0.5 $mg{cdot}L^{-1}$ Kin. The optimal responses of somatic emberyogenesis were recorded on media enriched with 4 $mg{cdot}L^{-1}$ 2,4-D, 0.1 $mg{cdot}L^{-1}$ Kin and leaf explants. These results were obtained from adult plants.