Somatic embryogenesis (SE) has been studied as a model system for understanding of molecular events in the physiology, biochemistry, and biology areas occurring during plant embryo development. Stresses are also the factors that have been increasingly recognized as having important role in the induction of SE. Plant growth regulators such as 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D), ABA, ethylene, and high concentrations of 2,4-D are known as stress-related substances for acquisition of embryogenic competence by plant cells. Gene expression analysis in both the proteome and transcriptome levels have led to the identification and characterization of some stress-related genes and proteins associated with SE. This review focuses on the molecular basis for stress-induced acquisition of SE.