Seed germination of desert shrubs (Atriplex griffithii Moq., Haloxylon recurvum (Moq.) Bunge ex Boiss, Suaeda fruticosa (L.) Forssk., Triglochin maritima L.), and a forb (Zygophyllum simplex L.) was studied under various light, temperature, and salinity regimes. Seed germination of Atriplex griffithii, Z. simplex, and Suaeda fruticosa was least affected by light, whereas, seeds of H. recurvum and T. maritima had a light requirement for germination. Haloxylon recurvum seeds did not germinate at 10–20 °C in the dark, and no T. maritima seeds germinated in dark at all thermoperiod and salinity regimes studied. Seed germination was inhibited in all species with an increase in salinity, and this inhibition was more substantial in dark than in light. Key words: Atriplex griffithii, halophyte, Haloxylon recurvum, light, seed germination, Suaeda fruticosa, Triglochin maritima, thermoperiod, Zygophyllum simplex.