Previous studies indicate that the degree of UV-Binduced photosynthetic inhibition may be highly dependent upon the photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD, total quantum flux in the waveband 400-700 nm) incident on a plant. This study illustrates that Essex soybean leaves (Glycine max) preconditioned under high PPFD suffered less UV-B-induced photoinhibition than when preconditioned under low PPFD. However, sensitivity to UV-B increased when soybean leaves received high-PPFD as a concomitant treatment. The relative msgnitude of UV-B-induced damage was similar for both light-limited and light-saturated photosynthesis. This probably indicates that UV-B is inhibiting fundamentally different photosynthetic processes. Soybean leaves preconditioned under high PPFD had greater specific-leaf-weight, chlorophyll a/b ratio, and crude flavonoid content. The total chlorophyll concentration of soybean leaves preconditioned under high PPFD increased slightly over a UV-B irradiation period of five hours. Total chlorophyll concentration of leaves preconditioned under low PPFD decreased slightly in response to the same irradiation period.