Mild-Intensity UV-A Radiation Applied Over a Long Duration Can Improve the Growth and Phenolic Contents of Sweet Basil

UV-A radiation (320–400 nm) is an abiotic stressor that may be used to enhance the production of beneficial secondary metabolites in crops such as leafy vegetables. However, tradeoffs between enhanced phytochemical contents and overall growth/yield reductions have been reported. The responses varied depending on the UV-A intensity, spectral peak, exposure time, species, and varieties. We quantified the changes in growth, morphology, photosynthesis, and phenolic contents of sweet basil grown under a base red/blue/green LED light with four supplemental UV-A intensity treatments (0, 10, 20, and 30 W·m(−2)) in an indoor environment over 14 days. The objective was to determine whether UV-A radiation could be utilized to improve both yield and quality of high-value sweet basil in a controlled production environment. Biomass harvested at 14 days after treatment (DAT) was highest under mild-intensity UV-A treatment of 10 W·m(−2) and lowest under high-intensity UV-A treatment of 30 W·m(−2). The total leaf area and the number of leaves were significantly lower under the 30 W·m(−2) treatment than under the 10 and 20 W·m(−2) treatments at 14 DAT. The maximum quantum efficiency of photosystem II (PSII) for photochemistry (F(v)/F(m)) showed a gradual decrease under the 20 and 30 W·m(−2) treatments from 3 to 14 DAT, whereas F(v)/F(m) remained relatively constant under the 0 and 10 W·m(−2) treatments over the entire 14 days. The leaf net photosynthesis rate showed a significant decrease of 17.4% in the 30 W·m(−2) treatment compared to that in the 10 W·m(−2) treatment at 14 DAT. Phenolic contents (PAL enzyme activity, total phenolic concentration, and antioxidant capacity) were the highest under the 20 W·m(−2) treatment, followed by the 10, 30, and 0 W·m(−2) treatments. Overall, our results indicate that the biomass production and accumulation of beneficial phenolic compounds in sweet basil varied depending on the intensity and duration of UV-A application. Mild UV-A radiation (10–20 W·m(−2)) can be a beneficial stressor to improve sweet basil yield and quality over relatively long-term cultivation.