  We give a H\"ormander type $L^2-$estimate for the $\bar{\partial}-$equation
with respect to the measure $\delta_\Omega^{-\alpha}dV$, $\alpha<1$, on any
bounded pseudoconvex domain with $C^2-$boundary. Several applications to the
function theory of weighed Bergman spaces $A^2_\alpha(\Omega)$ are given,
including a corona type theorem, a Gleason type theorem, together with a
density theorem. We investigate in particular the boundary behavior of
functions in $A^2_\alpha(\Omega)$ by proving an analogue of the Levi problem
for $A^2_\alpha(\Omega)$ and giving an optimal Gehring type estimate for
functions in $A^2_\alpha(\Omega)$. A vanishing theorem for $A^2_1(\Omega)$ is
established for arbitrary bounded domains. Relations between the weighted
Bergman kernel and the Szeg\"o kernel are also discussed.

Complex Variables