Echinochloa crusgalli, Xanthium sibiricum, Aeschynomene indica and Polygonum hydropiper are four common annual species growing in water-level-fluctuation zone of Three Gorges Reservoir. We found that seeds of these four species could tolerate long-term submergence and germinate successfully after water recession through our field observation, accordingly they could be used as promising species for revegetation and restoration of water-level-fluctuation zone. In this research, we studied the effects of storage condition and duration on the seed germination of the four species in order to find suitable ways to store and germinate them, providing information to restore vegetation by seeds in water-level-fluctuation zone of Three Gorges Reservoir. To select the best storage condition and time, we conducted storage experiments on seeds of the four species. We chose five different storage conditions, i.e. dry at room temperature, dry at 4 ℃, dry at -18 ℃, dry at room temperature under 10 cm sand layer and wet at room temperature under 10 cm sand layer. Fresh mature seeds of the four species under different storage conditions were stored through 8 different storage time (30, 60, 90, 120, 150, 180, 210, 240 d). Seed germination experiments were carried out in an illumination incubator (25 ℃ in day and 20 ℃ at night, light period: 12h: 12h and 100 μmol?m-2?s-1 day light intensity) and germination duration time was 30 d. The results showed that: (1) Seeds of E. crusgalli, X. sibiricum and P. hydropiper needed less time to start germination and had a higher seed germination percentage and a higher germination index under wet sand storage condition than under other conditions. In wet sand storage, the seed germination percentage of E. crusgalli after storage time of 90—180 d was higher than 80%, that of X. sibiricum after 180 d was (64±2)%, and that of P. hydropiper after 30—240 d all exceeded 90%. (2) For A. indica, freezing storage was effective to break its seed dormancy, increasing its seed germination percentage and germination index. Seed germination percentage of A. indica was higher than 80% after storage time of 90—180 d. (3) In addition, we found that pericarp was one of the most important factors impeding the seed germination of X. sibiricum, while having no significant effects on the seed germination of A. indica. From the results we concluded that the best storage condition for seeds of E. crusgalli, X. sibiricum and P. hydropiper is wet sand storage, while that for A. indica is freezing storage. Under appropriate storage condition, seeds of the four annual species having been stored for 120—180 d had higher germination percentage and shorter time needed to start germination，basing on the operation principle of Three Gorges Reservoir water level, these seeds could be used in field planting in water-level-fluctuation zone of Three Gorges Reservoir.