The effects of pigment glands and gossypol on the somatic cell culture of upland cotton were studied, using the materials as follows: three pairs of glanded and gland less upland cotton near isogenic lines, TM-1, and Coker 312. The results showed that the pigment glands and gossypol contents in the explants had great inhibiting effect on the induction and growth of callus in somatic cell culture of upland cotton, and the induction rate of callus and the single callus weight of glandless cotton were much higher than those of their glanded near isogenic lines. It was easier to obtain regeneration plants from glandless cotton than from their glandednear isogenic lines. There was a significant inverse correlation between the gossypol contents in the explants and callus induction rate, with the correlation coefficient of -0.84. The vitro gossypol in the medium had some inhibiting effect on the induction and growth of callus, especially for the gland-less cotton. However, a certain concentration of vitro gossy