Garlic (Allium sativum L.) is an agricultural crop which is propagated vegetatively. This makes garlic more susceptible to various diseases, especially viruses that are transmitted and accumulated through the infected material to the next generation. In the study of garlic regeneration by somatic embryogenesis two Istrian ecotypes (12 and 13) obtained from the Institute of Agriculture and Tourism in Poreč were used. Clove bases were used as explants and placed on two nutrient media of different compositions (MS and modified MS). Both media had also two different growth regulator compositions. Callogenesis was achieved on both ecotypes and all four treatments. The percentage of embryogenesis was higher for ecotype 13, but not significantly different than for ecotype 12. The number of regenerated plants differed significantly (P<0,05) between treatments. MS 2,4 D treatment had the highest number of regenerated plants per callus in both ecotypes. Successfully were planted and acclimatized 239 regenerated plants, of which 70% survived. Laboratory detection of four viruses was performed using the ELISA method, which included: onion yellow dwarf virus (OYDV), leek yellow stripe virus (LYSV), garlic common latent virus (GCLV) and shallot latent virus (SLV). Plants regenerated by somatic embryogenesis were compared with mother plants. Of the 82 regenerated plants tested, 16 were completely virus free (19,5%). The results of this study indicate that it is possible to obtain virus-free plants by somatic embryogenesis.