The present study was undertaken in investigate the response to salinity and effect of plant growth regulators and proline under salinity stress on the germination and seedling growth of Vigna angularis. The protective effect of external Ca2+ on root elongation under saline conditions was also investigated. The seed germination of Vigna angularis decreased with an increase in salinity. The growth regulators GA3 was more effective than kinetin. At a higher salinity, low concentrations of kinetin and high concentrations of GA3 were more effective. The external application of proline and betaine improved germination under saline conditions. At a low salinity proline and betaine alleviated the salinity-induced inhibition of germination, yet at higher NaCl concentrations, proline and betaine were both ineffective. Exposure to salinity during germination was accompanied by an increase in the proline content, thereby suggesting that one compatible solute in the germinating seed would seem to be proline. The inhibition of germination by high NaCl concentrations was relatively more severe in scarified seeds than in intact seeds, indicating that the seed coat acts as a partial barrier to an Na2+ ameliorated the adverse effect of salinity stress.