Seed germinability might be highly related to seedling establishment. The experiments were carried out to evaluate the effect of presowing treatments of aging, priming,

, prechilling and water imbibition, different temperatures and light quality during germination on germination of gourd (Lagenaria siceraria Standl.) seeds. Aging treatment with different temperatures and periods was done by the accelerated aging method. Priming using KNO

and

treatment for 24 hours were done at 100 mM and at 0.01 mM before a week prechilling. The germination tests using a week prechilled seeds were done at 10, 20 and

on the condition of darkness, and also with blue, red, far-red light and darkness as light quality treatments. FR-yongjadaemok and FR-kunghap were used as test cultivars and their daily germination rates were measured at treatment levels. Germination rates were reduced in the seeds aged at

for 6 days. Prechilling showed the highest and fastest rate among the four presowing treatments but the two other presowing treatments had similar or less rates than water imbibition. Prechilling done before sowing enhanced the low vigor seeds, and accelerated the germination of cv. FR-kunghap at 20 to

and with blue, red light or darkness during germination although far-red light inhibited their germination.