Abstract: Centipedegrass (Eremochloa ophiuroides) is an important warm-season turfgrass species, originated from China, but its drought resistance needs to be improved. In this paper selection and identification of somaclonal variants of centipedegrass for increased drought resistance were investigated. Embryogenic calli were subject to a long-term subculture for 24 months for induction of somaclonal variation. Five individual variants with improved drought resistance were selected and identified. Their physiological responses to drought were further measured. Relative water content (RWC), ion leakage, and malondialdehyde (MDA) content decreased after drought stress by withholding irrigation, but higher RWC and lower levels of ion leakage and MDA were in the drought-resistant variants than the control plants. There was no significant difference in proline content and superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activities between the variants and the wild type control plants prior to drought treatment. After withholding irrigation for 6 d, all plants showed increase in proline content and SOD and CAT activities, while lower content of proline and higher activities of SOD and CAT were in the variants than the control plants. It is suggested that the increased drought resistance in the five variants is associated with their higher levels of SOD and CAT activity under drought stress.