The seed dry weight ofQuercus leucotrichophora A. Camus. ex. Bahadur (banj oak) were much larger than the seeds ofPinus roxburghii Sarg. (chir pine) (1463 and 87 mg per seed). The responses of chir pine, an early successional species, and banj oak, a late successional species were compared in terms of seed germination. Seed germination was observed on single factor gradients of temperature, water stress, seed desiccation and light qualities. The suppression of germination caused by continuous dark and far-red was greater for chir pine than in banj oak. Compared with banj oak, chir pine seed germination showed wider response breadth on gradients of water stress and seed desiccation and narrower response breadth on the gradient of light quality.