Resumo. The objective of this study was to evaluate the initial development and quality of seedlings Pterogyne nitens Tull., produced under different luminosity levels . The experiment was conducted from March to June 2008 , in the agricultural field at the State University of Southwestern Bahia state - UESB , in Vitoria da Conquista , BA state. Seven experiments were defined for levels of 20 %, 30 %, 40 %, 50 %, 60 % and 70 % of light restriction and plants kept in full sun . For each experiment was followed the completely randomized design with five replications and each experimental unit was composed for12 plants. In a period from 15 to 75 days after the plant emergence , at intervals of 15 days, the morphological and quantitative characteristics of growth and quality index of Dickson (IQD) were evaluated . The constraint of light gradients induced morphological changes such as raising the height and increased individual and total leaf area of plants. Reductions in root system mass occurred at the expense of such modifications. Invariably, the highest rates were observed for the IQD plants lied under 36.5% light restriction.