Quantitative trait loci (QTL) controlling low temperature germinability (LTG) in rice were identified using 81 recombinant inbreed lines (RILs) derived from a cross between a japonica variety Kinmaze and an indica variety DV85. The accurate condition of LTG evaluation was assumed at 15 degrees C for 10 d after removing the effect of dormancy and the second dormancy. By setting check, the scores of LTG in this study were evaluated. The germination rate at 15 degrees C for 10 d was scored to represent the LTG. The LTG of the RILs ranged from 0 to 99%. By single point analysis, simple interval mapping, and composite interval mapping, 5 putative QTL, qLTG-2, qLTG-6, qLTG-7, qLTG-LTG-11 and qLTG-12 were detected on chromosomes 2, 6, 7, 11 and 12 respectively. At the regions of qLTG-2, qLTG-6 and qLTG-11, DV85 alleles increased the LTG, while Kinmaze alleles increased it at the regions of qLTG-7 and qLTG-12. Among the five QTLs reported here, qLTG-2, qLTG-7 and qLTG-12 were newly detected, while the other two QTL-containing regions were close to those previously reported. Epistatic QTL were also detected in this paper.