This trial was conducted aiming to evaluate the effects of light quality, through red (R) and far red (FR) light supplementation, on tiller emission, dry mass accumulation and the relationship between the size of the first main stem leaves with tiller emission, of four wheat cultivars. The experiment was carried out in Lages, SC, using wood boxes filled with mineral soil in an environment with natural radiation. Red and far red light supplementation was imposed between the emission of the third and fourth leaf on the main stem. The trial was harvested at the end of the tillering period. Th e supplementation of red light on cultivar Embrapa 16 enhanced the emission A1 and did not affect the production of A2 and A3. Conversely, for cultivar OR1 the supplementation with FR decreased the emission of A1 and A2 whereas cultivars Fundacep 29 and Embrapa 40 did not alter A1 production due to light supplementation. Tiller dry mass accumulation and the correlation between tiller emission and early growth parameters also varied according to the cultivar analyzed.
dry matter accumulation; light quality
