In vitro shoot regeneration is a developmental process that multiple genes and their interactions are involved in. Initiation of somatic cells stimulated by cytokinin, division of the initiated somatic cells and succeeding shoot meristem development are three key steps in the process. Therefore, exploration of gene expression and their interactions involved in these steps will shed light on our understanding of the molecular mechanism for regulation of plant in vitro shoot regeneration. Here we reviewed the research results of molecular regulation process involved in these steps.