Cabacinha (Luffa operculata) is a species that has been used empirically in folk medicine against sinusitis. The fruits have important pharmaceutical substances and studies related to its germination are not available, justifying the determination of the appropriate conditions that make possible the germination of its seeds. Thus, we evaluated the influence of different volumes of water in substrate and temperatures on germination and vigor of cabacinha. The treatments consisted of moistened substrate with water volumes equal to 2.0; 2.5; 3.0 and 3.5 times its weight of the dry paper and the seeds were kept in germination regulated at constant temperatures of 25, 30 and 35°C and 20-30°C alternating. The percentage and speed of germination, hypocotyl and...