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The induction of plant somatic embryogenesis is often a limiting step for plant multiplication and genetic manipulation in numerous crops. It depends on multiple signaling developmental processes involving phytohormones and the induction of specific genes. The <i>WUSCHEL</i> gene (<i>WUS</i>) is required for the production of plant embryogenic stem cells. To explore a different approach to induce somatic embryogenesis, we have investigated the effect of the heterologous <i>Arabidopsis</i><i>WUS</i> gene overexpression under the control of the jasmonate responsive <i>vsp1</i> promoter on the morphogenic responses of <i>Medicago truncatula</i> explants. <i>WUS</i> expression in leaf explants increased callogenesis and embryogenesis in the absence of growth regulators. Similarly, <i>WUS</i> expression enhanced the embryogenic potential of hairy root fragments. The <i>WUS</i> gene represents thus a promising tool to develop plant growth regulator-free regeneration systems or to improve regeneration and transformation efficiency in recalcitrant crops.