Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (AMF) from Heavy Metal-Contaminated Soils: Molecular Approach and Application in Phytoremediation

Abstract

Discharge of effluents from textile industry into river and agricultural land is one of the major global problems. The discharge of dye-containing effluents directly into the water makes it toxic for environment and living organisms. Currently available physical and chemical processes do not remove toxic chemicals, dyes, and detergents completely from the environment. It is now known that biological organisms like Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), in association with different plant species grown under contaminated soils, enhance uptake of heavy metals. However, very limited knowledge is available with community composition of tolerant mycorrhizal species/strains associated with heavy metal accumulator plants. Therefore, the present chapter deals with identification of novel approaches for diagnosis of mycorrhizal species from complex environmental soil. Furthermore, this chapter suggests more sustainable approaches for reclamation of heavy metals by AMF associated with the heavy metal accumulator plants.