Two different types of explant (proximal and flamingo-bill) from Emphasis seedlings, a hybrid cultivar of bottle gourd (Lagenaria siceraria (Molina) Stand.), germinated under dark and light conditions were cultured on 9 regeneration MS media containing various combinations of BA (0, 1.0, and 2.0 mg l-1) and IAA (0, 0.25, and 0.5 mg l-1). Comparison of the explant types showed that the flamingo-bill type explant had better shoot formation than did the proximal explant. The MS medium containing 1 mg l-1 of BA was optimal for shoot formation capacity when flamingo-bill type explants germinated in the dark (44%) and light (36%) were used. Histological analysis showed that explant cell division began after 3 days in regeneration medium and formation of primordium was observed in the tissues in culture between days 5 and 7. Differentiation of meristimatic structures was first observed after 9 days and development completed after 9-12 days in the culture. © TÜBİTAK.