The objective of this study was to compare different light and temperature regimes to establish conditions for the standard germination test of Brazilian peanut (Arachis pintoi Krapov. & W.C. Gregory). The germination tests were conducted with 200 seeds (4 x 50), using rolled paper towel. The experiment consisted of two stages. In the first, the temperatures used were 25ºC, 30ºC, 35ºC, 25º-30º C, 25º-35ºC and 30º-35ºC, with and without light. In the second, the alternating temperatures of 25º-30 ºC and 25º-35ºC with light were compared with the recommended (20º-30°C with light) for peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.). Three statistical repetitions were used, in a completely randomized design. It was verified that the use of alternating temperatures promoted a significant decrease in the number of hard seeds because
dormancy was overcome. Among the treatments with constant temperature, 30ºC with light showed the highest number of normal seedlings. The temperatures of 20º-30ºC and 25º-30ºC, with light, were the most recommended for the germination test. Daily countings of normal seedlings showed that the best day for the first counting was the 8th and for the last one the 14th day of the germination test.