Incredible role of fungi in various fields for sustainable development

Abstract

Fungi are leaving its remarkable contribution in human race since a long back. History dictates its utilization in one of the oldest civilizations, Chinese civilization. It has been and still playing a remarkable role in many fields. Fungi are playing implausible role in food and feed providing many dietary supplements. Its role in impacting our daily life cannot be denied, as it is now used in food and feed industry. The most common fungus Agaricus bisporus is one of the examples of most consumable fungi across the world. Utilization of baker’s yeast is another such example. Not only this, its many species are utilized for the production of pharmaceutical proteins, immunosuppressive agents, and antitumor agents and in other medical fields. Fungi have extended its helping hand to sustain agriculture too. Its role as biofertilizer and as biocontrol agent enhances its utilization and importance. Fungi are playing significant role in bioremediation of heavy metals and other pesticides also. In addition fungi like Phlebia radiata or Poria subvermispora are utilized in paper industry. There are fields where fungus is showing good results at the starting level and needs to be explored for its utilization at higher scale. This chapter is about putting some light on significance of fungi in various fields.