Axenic cultures of peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) roots can be initiated from in vitro cultured embryos and shoot meristems. Embryo axes produced more shoots than tissue taken from axillary meristems. For tissue derived from shoot cultures, Virginia cultivars had a higher percentage of rooting explants than a Spanish cultivar. Inoculation with Agrobacterium rhizogenes increased root yields. However, root propagation in liquid medium was unsuccessful. On the other hand, the use of detached leaves, incubated on a sand/mineral liquid medium, led to vigorous root production after inoculation with A. rhizogenes, regardless of the bacterial strain used. These roots could be propagated subsequently in liquid medium. The advantages of the detached leaf technique are discussed.