Present study explored seed dormancy type,seed germination response to temperature and water potential,and dormancy break methods of Vicia angustifolia,which extensively distributed in the Qing-Tibetan Plateau.The results showed that:(1)Fresh V.angustifolia seeds exhibited combinational dormancy,but one year stored seeds exhibited physical dormancy (PY) only.(2)Compared to one year stored seeds,fresh seeds had a narrower germination temperature range,and high temperature significantly inhibited its seed germination.Stored seeds germinated to 90% at 25 ℃,but fresh seeds germinated to 4% only.(3)Fresh seeds are more sensitive to water stress compared to stored seeds regardless of temperature.At 10 ℃,15 ℃,20 ℃,stored seeds germinated to 95%,91% and 89% at -0.4 MPa,respectively,and fresh seeds germinated to 85%,55% and 8% only.(4)Fluridon (FL) and gibberellic acid (GA₃) had no obvious effect on the germination of stored seeds,but significantly promoted the germination speed of fresh seeds at 20 ℃.Compared with the stored seeds,germination of fresh seeds are more sensitive to ABA inhibition.In addition to the highest concentration of paclobutrazol（PA,100 μmol/L),PA had no significant effect on germination of fresh and stored seeds.This suggests that ABA may be the main reason responsible for physiological dormancy of V.angustifolia seeds.Sulfuric acid scarification and cut treatment both could release seed physical dormancy effectively,and sulfuric acid scarification for 20 min is the optimal way to release physical dormancy of one year stored V.angustifolia seeds.