Nigella sativa, which is used widely as a spice and also valued for its medicinal properties, can be rapidly propagated in vitro by axillary bud multiplication and by somatic embryogenesis. Axillary bud multiplication was achieved by the application of different cytokinins, and 6-benzylaminopurine used singly or in combination with adenine sulphate gave a good response. Somatic embryos were produced in suspension culture using Murashige and Skoog medium supplemented with L-glutamine.