Assessing Growth Performance, Herbal Yield, and Secondary Metabolite Content in Thai Holy Basil (Ocimum tenuiflorum L.) Accessions Using High-Throughput Phenotyping Platform Under Controlled Greenhouse Conditions

Holy basil (Ocimum tenuiflorum L.) is an extensively utilized herb, encompassing numerous bioactive compounds that hold significant interest in the food and pharmaceutical industries. High-throughput phenotyping is a rapid and non-invasive technique, providing diverse phenotypic trait observation and measurement. However, basic knowledge regarding the diversity among varieties beneficial for large-scale production in terms of yield and secondary metabolites under a controlled greenhouse environment is limited. Hence, we assessed and classified 12 Thai accessions and two commercial cultivars by evaluating growth, yield, and secondary metabolites at each harvesting time using an advanced NSTDA-Plant Phenomics platform. Notably, accessions OC130, OC141, OC072, and OC059 demonstrated stable metabolite production and antioxidant activity, highlighting their potential as superior accessions for further cultivation and utilization. These findings underscore the potential for tailored cultivation practices to manipulate secondary metabolite synthesis, thereby enhancing the medicinal properties and market value of Thai holy basil. The implications of this study extend to farmers, providing valuable insights into the phenotypic variation and practical avenues under consistent environmental conditions. Breeders can observe genetic diversity to improve basil varieties with desirable traits for specific environmental niches. Moreover, modern agricultural practices can benefit from understanding the impact of controlled environments on secondary metabolite synthesis.