Light is an important factor in the cold protection process in plants. The objective of this study was to evaluate the relationship between temperatures and levels of quantity and quality of light on the initial development of rice cultivars and red rice biotypes. Two experiments were conducted, in the laboratory and in the greenhouse, from July to November 2012. The factors studied in experiment I were: temperatures (25 ºC and 18/13 ºC); cultivars/biotypes (IRGA 424 and PUITÁ INTA-CL/AV 6716 and AV 6722) and light (white, blue, green, yellow and red, 86% and 93% shading and dark). In the second experiment, the factors were seasons (August and November); cultivars/biotypes (IRGA 424 and PUITÁ INTA-CL/AV 6716 and AV 6722) and light (white with cover, white, blue, green, yellow and red, 86% and 93% shading). Were evaluated normal seedlings, shoot and root length, shoot and root dry weight and leaf area. The cultivars and biotypes studied have a similar behavior in response to temperature and light during early development. Light, especially the red wavelength, has increased cold tolerance in rice.
environmental stress; germination; emergency; seedling