Among the factors affecting seed lot germinability are the environmental conditions under which the seeds are produced. The objective of this study was to determine how water availability of the mother plant affects seed development and germination in lettuce. Seeds of cv. Tango were produced in a greenhouse under one of two treatments: i) wet (watering volume equivalent to evapotranspirated volume), and ii) dry (watering volume ~54% of wet treatment). The dry treatment produced significantly shorter plants, and plants with fewer but heavier seeds. There were no differences in germination with light at 20, 25 and 30 degrees C; in all cases it was close to 100%. Without light, germination at 20 degrees C from both treatments was reduced drastically, with a significant difference in favor of the dry treatment. Germination of seed from both treatments was affected by reduced water potential (PEG solutions), with a slight difference in favor of the wet treatment. In both treatments germination decreased at increased levels of exogenous ABA, although seeds from the dry treatment were more sensitive to elevated ABA levels. Our results indicated that water availability during seed development not only affected seed yield and individual seed weight, but also germinability under sub-optimal conditions.