Marjoram seeds were soaked in Gibrescol solution (GA3), matriconditioned with MicroCel-E (MCE), and osmoconditioned in polyethylene glycol solution (PEG). The treated seeds and control ones were either dressed with fungicide or sown without it. In order to investigate the effect of the applied treatments on the marjoram herb yield, content and composition of essential oil and oil yield, field experiments were conducted in two regions of Poland (Warsaw and Krakow). Transplants were grown in the greenhouse. Each tested method of presowing treatment increased the seed vigour and the highest improvement was noted with MCE and followed by PEG and GA3, respectively. Fungicide application did not cause positive effects. That was also confirmed with the results of field experiments where fungicide applying either showed no significant differences (Krakow) or even decreased the yield of marjoram herb and oil (Warsaw). The advantageous effect of presowing seed conditioning and treating with GA3 on the marjoram yield was observed in both experimental locations, eventhough its degree was different. Tested methods of seed treatment did not change marjoram oil composition considerably. INTRODUCTION The unsatisfactory efficiency in the production of herbal raw materials is attributed to a low level of agrotechnical methods (Jambor and Reuter, 1997). A high quality yield of marjoram (Origanum majorana L.) is easily obtained by a proper plant growth, which begins with seed germination. The marjoram emergence is, from its nature, uneven and long lasting. Physiological presowing treatments were proved to enhance seed vigour and in many crops to increase also yield and its quality (Parera and Cantliffe, 1994; Dąbrowska and Suchorska, 1999). The combination of presowing conditioning and hormone applying with fungicide protection may contribute either to an improvement or to a deterioration of plant growth and development (Khan et al., 1992; Szafirowska and Khan, 1995). The aim of this study was to determine the effect of presowing seed soaking in GA3 solution, matriconditioning, osmoconditioning, and protecting with fungicide on the yield of marjoram crop in the open field cultivation started with transplants. MATERIALS AND METHODS Marjoram seeds with 82 % initial germination capability (ISTA, 1993) were treated as follows. GA3 soaking in gibberellic acid solution (1000 ppm, 24 hrs), MCE matriconditioning with MicroCel-E (the weight ratio of seed:carrier:water = 3:1:4, 6 days, 15°C, in light), PEG osmoconditioning in the solution of polyethylene glycol PEG6000 (240 g kg, 5 days, 15°C, in light). Non-treated seeds were used as a control. The seeds from each treatment were dressed with mancozeb (Penncozeb 80WP, 3 g kg) or not Proc. IS on Sust. Use Of Plant Biodiv. Eds. E. Duzyaman &Y.Tuzel Acta Hort. 598, ISHS 2003