The effects of growth regulator, light, expiant, sugar, agar, pH and leaf age on adventitious shoot formation were tested using leaf expiants of endemic wild pear ( Pyrus syriaca ). Shoots regenerated from whole leaf and leaf sections when either adaxial or abaxial leaf surfaces were in contact with the media. Expiants placed in darkness for two or three weeks yielded regeneration frequencies of 76% and 11.8 regenerants/leaf were obtained on thiadiazuron (TDZ at 2.0 |liM) supplemented medium. When zeatin and benzyleadenine (BA) were substituted as the cytokinin source, frequencies of regeneration and shoot productivity were lower than when TDZ was used. Increasing sucrose concentration to 0. 15 M resulted in increased regeneration compared to the use of fructose and glucose. Maximum regeneration percentage (88%) and number of regenerants/leaf (13.2) were obtained on medium containing 0.15 M sucrose and 2.0 |liM TDZ. MS and WPM medium produced higher regeneration frequencies and number of regenerants/leaf than did TK, LP, NN, or B5 medium. Medium with 7 to 8 g/1 agar and myo-inositol at 50 to 100 mg/1 were optimal for regeneration. Leaves of intermediate age possessed better regeneration ability than did young and old leaves. Cells from callus and suspension cultures did not exhibit regeneration in any of the media that supported organogenesis from leaves. Regenerants were successfully micropropagated on MS medium containing 6.6 juM BA and 0.5 jliM naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA). Microshoots were rooted on medium containing 17.1 |liM indoleacetic acid (IAA) and rooted microshoots had a 95% survival rate under ex vitro acclimatization. Plantlets produced developed in the greenhouse and did not show phenotypic variation.