Polyethylene glycol (PEG)-6000, mannitol and sucrose were employed as osmotica for simulating water stress to identify drought resistance at germination stage of wheat. Three osmotica with osmotic potential from -0.25MPa to 1.50MPa were compared. Germinal bud growth in sucrose was inhibited because of molding and stress. Germinal bud elongation was inhibited in -0.25MPa PEG-6000 and -0.50MPa mannitol. Germination percentage significantly decreased in -0.50MPa PEG-6000 and -1.00MPa mannitol. Both of germination percentage and germinal bud length decreased with the increase of osmotic stress because the speed of water absorbing by grains was slow in osmotic stress solutions, and further resulted in lower grain relative water content (RWC) and lower osmotic potential than in water. All parameters associated with germination decreased more seriously in PEG-6000 than in mannitol at the same osmotic potential. For the purpose of evaluating drought resistance of wheat genotypes by identifying germination percentage in osmotic stress solution, -0.50MPa PEG-6000 or -1.00MPa mannitol is ideal, but -0.50MPa PEG-6000 should be preferred if the experiment cost is considered.