Mycoremediation: Role of Mushroom in the bioremediation of heavy metals

Abstract

The removal and recovery of heavy metals from the polluted environment are now possible because of the new and promising method known as bioremediation. Macrofungi can accumulate and break down a wide variety of hazardous metals and the same is a highly effective way to restore a damaged environment. In general, mushrooms recover contaminated or polluted soils using three efficient strategies: biodegradation, bioconversion, and biosorption. The process of mycoremediation employs a variety of wild and domesticated mushroom species which may break down significant amounts of organic and inorganic contaminants and eventually produce marketable goods or chemicals. White rot fungi have been widely employed in the conversion of pesticides, breakdown of petroleum hydrocarbons, and treatment of lignocellulosic waste in the pulp and paper sector. Several mushrooms, including Phanerochaete chrysosporium, Agaricus bisporus, Trametes versicolor, and Pleurotus ostreatus, among others, have been documented for their involvement in the remediation of contaminated locations..