In solving problems of biodiversity conservation the important role is played by plant gene banks that are the main and reliable storages of genetic resources. Complicated physiological and biological aging processes occur in seeds during long-term ex situ conservation of the germplasm, fi nally these processes cause the delay in germination, inhibition of seedling growth, reduction of their resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses. One of chemical methods used for activation of initial metabolic processes in seeds after their long-term storage involves the use of natural bioregulators, particularly steroid glycosides having multifunctional activity. Steroid glycosides are classifi ed as such natural non-toxic bioregulators. While being accumulated in signifi cant amounts in diff erent plant organs, they represent valuable raw sources of biologically active substances and are located directly in cells or cell membranes. Depends on concentration and structure steroid glycosides may have stimulating or inhibiting infl uence on seeds of diff erent crops. It was revealed that glycosides exert the positive infl uence on pollen viability, processes of seed germination, on resistance and productivity of the many agricultural plants. In these studies the effi cacy of chemical compounds of given class was checked in seeds of various genotypes of common wheat from the gene bank collection. Experiments were conducted to test the eff ect of steroid glycosides Sisymbriifoliozid (S1) and Hyascyamozid (Н1) on common wheat seeds subjected to ex situ conservation, which were used in concentrations from 10-1 to 10-6 %. Seeds were soaked in solution of glycosides for 18 hours and then were let germinate in Petri dishes held in thermostat at 25оC in accordance with international ISTA procedures. The number of seeds in each variant consists of 200-300. Study of exogenous eff ect of steroid glycoside S1 on wheat seeds allowed to reveal its stimulating eff ect when used in concentrations within the range of 0,001 to 0,05%. Use of 0,001% solution of S1 promoted the increase in germination rate and germination power in seeds of genotypes Tavrichanka and Stepnyak as compared to control. In seeds of Birlik cultivar seeds germination power increased by 12,1% as compared to control when the said solution was used in concentration of 0,05%. These seeds also had more developed and more viable rootlets. Experiments with seeds of Basarabeanca genotype were conducted using method of accelerated aging of seeds with the following conditions of aging selected by us: air temperature 40 to 42оC, air humidity 90 to 100%, aging period 96 hours). The other steroid glycoside Н1 was tested in these seeds as well. In this case stimulating concentration for germination processes was 0,005%. Germination power of seeds in this variant was 65,0% versus 52,5% in control. Cytologic analysis of apical meristem of embryo roots of seedlings revealed signifi cant increase in frequency of chromosome aberrations in seeds following accelerated aging (by 1,9 times) as compared to normal seeds (experimental: 4,5%, control: 2,4%). Moreover, spectrum of chromosome aberrations also showed signifi cant increase in single and double chromosome bridges (single: by 1,7 times, double: by 3 times), besides chromosome lagging was observed. In some variants of experiment, treatment of seeds with solution of Н1 decreased frequency of chromosome aberrations as compared to control. Results of conducted experiments with bioregulators allowed to conclude that treatment of seeds with steroid glycosides is eff ective for activation of initial metabolism in old seeds, but the eff ect depends on some factors, such as chemical properties of glycoside, its concentration, method and duration of treatment of seeds. In summary, testing of collection accessions of common wheat has demonstrated that use of steroid glycosides S1 and H1 is useful for enhancement of seed viability in ex situ conservation.