Basil (Ocimum basilicum L. Genovese) is a highly valued and economically important herb with high culinary and medicinal qualities. Light intensity and photoperiod are the most influential environmental parameters affecting its growth, morphology, and biomass production under controlled environments. This study aims to evaluate the impact of gradually increasing light intensity and photoperiod on the growth and yield of basil while the total daily integral was the same at the end of cultivation. Four different treatments were used: (T1) constant light intensity (300 µmol m⁻² s⁻¹) and constant 16 h photoperiod (Control), (T2) constant light intensity with an increasing photoperiod (14 -16 -18 h), (T3) constant photoperiod (16 h) with an increasing light intensity (200 - 300 - 400 µmol m⁻² s⁻¹), and (T4) both dynamic light intensity and photoperiod increasing over time. The treatments were applied for 24 days in a growth chamber equipped with a drip hydroponic system, and the treatment dynamic changes were implemented every 8 days. Plants grown under increasing photoperiod and light intensity (T4) exhibited better morphological characteristics, more significant biomass accumulation (fresh and dry weight), and light use efficiency, measured as the proportion of light absorbed by PS II used in biochemistry than the other treatments. The results emphasize the relevance of adaptive lighting to optimize basil growth in indoor farming. Dynamic optimization of lighting can increase the utilization efficiency of light with positive implications for vertical farming and hydroponics cultivation. Future studies should explore the nutritional and olfactory profile to refine adaptive lighting approaches for vertical farming and hydroponic systems. Keywords: Basil, dynamic lighting, photoperiod, indoor farming, biomass accumulation, hydroponics.
