Molecular Dissection of Cucumis metuliferus Resistance against Papaya Ringspot Virus by Grafting.

Vegetable crops of the genus Cucumis are very popular worldwide and have great market value. However, their fruit quality and yield are hindered by viral diseases. C. metuliferus is considered a wild species with resistance to viral diseases that is lacking in cultivated crops of the Cucumis genus, such as melon. The C. metuliferus line L37 shows extreme resistance against Papaya ringspot virus (PRSV-HA), whereas line L35 is a susceptible line. In this study, reciprocal grafting experiments between L35 and L37 were performed, and the PRSV-HA strain was pre-inoculated in the rootstock leaves. The results revealed that the resistance signal in the L37 rootstock could transmit and provide resistance to the L35 scion. Subsequently, double sandwich grafting was performed using the pre-inoculated L35 as the rootstock, which was then grafted onto the L37 intermediate and the L35 scion. The results showed that PRSV-HA RNA accumulated in the L35 rootstock leaf, petiole, and stem tissues, whereas PRSV-HA RNA accumulated in some intermediate and scion petiole and stem tissues. No HCPro RNA was detected in the L35 scion leaves. The results showed that the suppression of the virus occurred in the leaves, and the resistance effect spread from the rootstock in the scion direction. Hence, this study has demonstrated that RNA silencing of systemic signals is responsible for L37 resistance against PRSV. C. metuliferus L37 could provide a valuable resistance source for crops of the Cucumis species against viral diseases through grafting.

Using nanoimprint lithography to improve the light extraction efficiency and color rendering of dichromatic white light-emitting diodes.

Despite the efficiency of gallium nitride (GaN)-based blue light-emitting diodes (LEDs), the light extraction arising from the packaging of the phosphor remains an important issue when enhancing the performance of dichromatic white LEDs. In this study, we employed a simple, inexpensive nanoimprinting process to increase both the light extraction efficiency and color rendering of dichromatic white LEDs. We employed the rigorous coupled wave approach (RCWA) to optimize the light extraction efficiency of yellow and blue light. We found that the presence of the light extracting structures could also improve the color rendering of the dichromatic white LEDs, due to the different light extraction efficiencies of the textured structures at different wavelengths. After fabricating inverted pyramid structures on the surface of the encapsulation layer, the intensity of the blue light at 455 nm increased by 20%. When we further considered the color rendering and correlated color temperature (CCT), the enhancement of blue light was 15% and that of yellow light was 4%. Meanwhile, the light extraction of the intensity dip near 490 nm was enhanced significantly (by 25%), resulting in an increased dip-intensity of light at 490 nm relative to the intensities of the blue and yellow light. Accordingly, the color rendering index (CRI) of this dichromatic white LED increased from 69 to 73. Because it improved both the light extraction efficiency and color rendering of dichromatic white LEDs, this simple method should be very helpful for enhancing their applications in solid state illumination.