Abstract: Somatic embryogenesis of coniferous species is used both as a means of propagation and as a valuable model system for investigating the structural, physiological, and molecular events occurring during embryo development. The whole embryogenesis is composed of three steps: induction and proliferation of embryogenic tissue, somatic embryo maturation, and somatic embryo germination and conversion. In past, attempts for improving the whole embryogenesis procedure were made almost during the maturation stage, because of the assumption that successful regeneration would be related to treatments provided during the development of the embryos. However, in the last several years, studies demonstrated that the early events in embryogenesis were also crucial for the completion of the overall embryogenic program, implemented by physiological, biochemical, and molecular studies. Manipulation of the culture conditions early in the process can increase both number and quality of the embryos. Furthermore, adjusting the medium can also enhance germination and conversion frequencies of somatic embryos matured. These new findings are important for improving induction and conversion frequencies in conifer somatic embryogenesis.