Pinus patula is a species commonly used for reforestation in Mexico. However, efficient methods for the mass production seedlings are required. Micropropagation particularly by somatic embryogenesis provides an option for the rapid multiplication of high-quality, genetically improved material. This study induces somatic embryo-genesis in this species using the thin cell layer (TCL) technique. Two sources of explants (complete immature embryos; lTCL segments from immature embryos) were evaluated. The efficiency of TCL from longitudinal sec-tions [lTCL] and transverse [tTCL] was evaluated. The results show using thin cell layers from immature embryos cultivated in 16 light/8 dark hours achieves induction of somatic embryos. A higher percentage of embryogenic callus was obtained when tTCL segments were used as an explant source. These results produced somatic embryos from tTCL segments of an immature embryo without germinating the seed, making the process more time effi-cient. In addition, this technique can be used to generate somatic embryogenesis in forest species that have low germination rates.