The seed germination of bread (Triticum aestivum cv. Bezostaya 1 and Ceyhan 99) and durum (Triticum durum cv. Diyarbakır 81 and Fırat 93) wheat species and their wild relative species (Aegilops biuncialis and Ae. triuncialis) was compared at two light levels, nine NaCl concentrations and three alternating temperature regimes. No seeds germinated at 675 mmol/L NaCl. The highest seed germination (100%) of cultivated wheat cultivars was noted in the control at 15/25°C and 20/30°C, and that of wild wheat species in both the control and the 150 mmol/L NaCl treatment under all temperature regimes. The seed germination of bread and durum wheat cultivars was completely inhibited at or above 450 and 375 mmol/L NaCl, respectively. No Ae. biuncialis seeds germinated at 600 mmol/L NaCl, while seeds of Ae. triuncialis germinated at this concentration (38.9%) only at 20/30°C in darkness. The inhibitory effect of light on germination in all genotypes was determined in some salinity levels at 15/25°C. The optimal germination treatment for all genotypes was 15/25°C temperature regime and darkness. The inhibitory effect of high salinity on germination was greater at 25/35°C than at 15/25°C or 20/30°C. In salinity and temperature interactions, the seeds of wild wheat species were found to be more tolerant than those of wheat cultivars.