Specific features of the water absorbing capacity in common spring wheat seeds with different
ecotypes, connected with their ecological–geographic origin, have been disclosed in the course of sprouting as
dependent on the temperature of the environment. The highest speed of water absorption by seeds at low temperatures
was found in varieties of the West-Siberian forest steppe ecotype, while somewhat lower values were
found in varieties of the North-Russian forest ecotype. The results of research might be used in breeding work
to create wheat varieties for the conditions of forest steppe in Middle Povolzhye and Orenburg Cisurals.