Among the environmental conditions employed in micropropagation, light quality plays an important role in growth, specially morphogenesis and photosynthesis. The effect of radiation quality (350-740 nm) on the development and growth of zygotic embryos and in vitro plantlets of open-pollinated chestnut (Castanea crenata S. et Z.) were studied. Two types of explants were exposed for 4 weeks to cool white (W, as control), monochromatic red (R, peak emission 650 nm), monochromatic blue (B, peak emission 440 nm), red+blue (R+B, 1:1), or red+far-red (R+Fr, 1:1, far-red peak emission 720 nm) radiation from a light-emitting-diode (LED) system. While the zygotic embryos showed positive photoblastic behavior, their germination was inhibited by blue radiation. Hypocotyl elongation and root development were promoted by red radiation. The emergence of primary leaf and its expansion were faster under blue than under red radiation. In the plantlets, red and red+far-red radiation significantly increased the formation and growth of the root, whereas blue light reduced rooting. Therefore, radiation quality appears to influence some steps in the development of zygotic embryos and plantlets in the chestnut.