Introduction
Peperomia (Radiator Plant) is the second biggest genus in the Piperaceae family, behind Piper. It is one of the angiosperm genera with the greatest species, with roughly 1,600 taxa.
Distribution,
Peperomia species (e.g. Radiator plant, Rat tail) are found in tropical and subtropical climates all over the world, but the genus has the most diversity in the Americas, where it can be found in a wide range of environments from the southern United States to Argentina and Chile. The Andes and Amazon regions are home to many indigenous species. Southern Asia (around 100 species), Africa (around 20 species), Madagascar (around 40 species), and Australia and New Zealand (less than 20 species) have the most diversity.
Characteristics
1. Peperomia species can be epiphytic, epilithic, or terrestrial and are annual or perennial herbs.
2. This plant prefers a moist environment and can grow up to 15-45 cm in length.
3. The stem is fleshy, spherical, delicate, and glabrous, while the seeds are small dots linked to many fruiting spikes.
4. The leaf is Simple and exstipulate. The leaves are alternately placed on the stems for around 1-2 cm. It has glossy heart-shaped fleshy leaves with broad-ovate blades. The shape of the leaves can be orbicular, ovate, elliptic, obovate, rhomboid, cordate, and deltoid to lanceolate. Leaves have 1–3 (– 5) nerves pinnately or palmately.
5.Phyllotaxy are Opposite, opposite decussate, 3–7-verticillate, spiral, or alternate
6. When the lamina is young, it is fleshy, but when it is dried, it becomes thinly papery, chartaceous, subcoriaceous, or coriaceous.
7. Solitary, fascicled, or compound inflorescences with 1–7 spikes per shoot are glabrous or hairy.
8. The flower is small, sessile, and often encased in a rachial pit. A single floral bract, an androecium with two stamens, and a gynoecium make up the floral structure. The filaments of the two stamens are short. The theca is D-shaped and rounded. The blooms are many, strewn around the spike, and lack petals, containing only stamens and an ovary.
9. The ovary is single-loculed, with a single ovule and frequently one or three stigmas (rarely 2-cleft).
10. The fruit is a little nutlet with or without papillae and a pseudopedicel. The floral bract, as well as the style, remain constant.
11. Many taxonomists believe Peperomia is a specialised group within the Piperaceae because of its distinct, reduced, and simple blooms. In comparison to vegetative features, the modest size and simple flowers have little taxonomic significance for species identification in the field.
12. Dahlstedt (1900) proposed that fruit shape and indumentum may be utilised to distinguish Peperomia species. Burger (1977) agreed but warned about the differential drying of the lower section of the fruit’s surface when it came into touch with the enclosing rachis.
13. It also contains tiny fruits, and when crushed, the seeds emit a mustard-like odour.
Propagation
Seeds, cuttings, or divisions can all be used to reproduce these plants. Cuttings from Peperomia are easy to root.
Importance
1.P. pellucida has contributed significantly to the improvement of human life quality by serving as a useful component of food and medications.
2. The leaves and stems of P. pellucida can be consumed as a vegetable, according to Majumder et al., (2011) and Sheikh et al., (2013).
3. The crispness of celery and carrot sticks in salads can be found in the fresh plant.
4. This plant is used to treat stomach discomfort, boils, colic fatigue, abscesses, acne, convulsions, fever, gout, headache, renal disorders, conjunctivitis, skin illnesses, breast cancer, and rheumatoid joint pain.
5. The whole plant was crushed and mixed with water to make a concoction, which was then heated and administered orally to treat bleeding.
6. The aerial parts are extracted and used as dressing for wound curing and their roots are used to treat fevers.
7. Plants are used as direct medicinal agents for a variety of disorders in modern medicine. Flavonoids, phytosterols, substituted styrenes, secolignans, highly, sesamin, xanthone glycoside, and peperomins.
8. Plant tissue culture is a feasible alternative technology that is frequently employed in conservation, commercial propagation, and the manufacture of bioactive compounds. This in vitro approach is extremely beneficial in ensuring the long-term optimization of plant-derived natural compounds. Furthermore, by employing elicitors, this propagation strategy improves the extraction of secondary metabolites and is suited to large-scale products.
PEPEROMIA DISEASES
Peperomias (Peperomia spp.) are common foliage Pot plants with few problems. These issues, fortunately, are rather simple to address. Ringspot, Oedema, Phytophthora Rot, and Cutting Rot are the most frequent illnesses.
RING ROT
Peperomia Ringspot is caused by a virus that is spread via cuttings taken from seemingly healthy but affected plants. Peperomia obtusifolia and P. obtusifolia var. variegata are the plants that are affected by the illness.
Symptoms
The leaves are disfigured by concentric, brown, necrotic ring marks known as Peperomia ring spots. Depending on the plant, the juvenile leaves may be cupped, curled, or twisted. Only the elder leaves of some plants are impacted. Plants that are severely sick may become stunted. Each ring spot begins as a little, transparent dot that grows in size as a series of narrow bands or lines are added outward. Some lines are translucent and light, while others are dark and impenetrable. The tissue over the dark lines on the upper leaf surface is often sunken, leaving small furrows or grooves. The ring spot-affected part of the leaf is paler than the rest of the leaf. The contours of ring spots and ring patterns on a leaf are regular when one or a few appear. When a large number of spots appear close together, their outlines mix and the rings form uneven patterns.
Control
A.When unhealthy plants are detected, discard them immediately; they will not recover.
B. Only take cuttings from plants that are known to be healthy.
C. Using a sterilised soil mix, propagate cuttings.
D. Keep plants as insect-free as possible, as insects may transmit the virus.
OEDEMA
Although the exact aetiology of oedema or edoema is uncertain, there is evidence that it could be caused by a virus.
Symptoms
Small, elevated, pimply spots exist on both leaf surfaces, but the underleaf surface is the most prominent. The elevated regions start darker green than the surrounding parts, but they eventually turn brown, corky, and sunken. Diseased leaves may be deformed and stunted if the infection is severe.
Control
Same as for ring spot.
PHYTOPHTHORA ROT
The soilborne fungus Phytophthora palmivora and P. nicotianae var. parasitica produce Phytophthora Rot on all portions of the peperomia plant.
Symptoms
On small plants, the infection starts where the leaf blades come into contact with the soil and spread to the stem. A black Rot has girdled the stem and killed it. The first symptom on older plants is a blackening of the stem at the soil line. The Rot may wrap the stem, causing the lower leaves to droop. Plants get stunted, wilt, wither and die over time. The Rot could be caused by nematodes (for example, lesion, pin, root-knot, and spiral).
Control
A. When afflicted plants are first discovered, destroy them.
B. Avoid thick, poorly drained soil mixtures and overwatering. Maintain dry soil by watering from below.
C. Take cuttings 6 to 12 inches above the soil line only from known healthy plants.
D. Before inserting cuttings or plants into propagation boxes, pots, sand, and soil mixtures, steam-sterilized them.
CUTTING ROT
A variety of common soilborne fungi, including the same Phytophthora species that cause Phytophthora Rot, can produce cutting Rot. Rhizoctonia solani and Pythium species are two other cutting rot fungi.
Symptoms
Dark brown to black watersoaked regions in the petioles at the soil line of diseased cuttings may extend into the leaf blades. The roots frequently deteriorate as well.
Control
Same as for Phytophthora Rot.
Top Questions
Question: Name Some Diseases of Radiator Plant?
ANS: Ringspot, Oedema, Phytophthora Rot, and Cutting Rot are the most frequent diseases.
Question: What are the Benefits of the Radiator plant?
ANS:1. P. pellucida has contributed significantly to the improvement of human life quality by serving as a useful component of food and medications.
2. This plant is used to treat stomach discomfort, boils, colic fatigue, abscesses, acne, convulsions, fever, gout, headache, renal disorders, conjunctivitis, skin illnesses, breast cancer, and rheumatoid joint pain.
3. The aerial parts are extracted and used as dressing for wound curing and their roots are used to treat fevers.
Question: How can we propagate Radiator Plant?
ANS: Seeds, cuttings, or divisions can all be used to reproduce these plants