Does mycoremediation reduce the soil toxicant?

Abstract

The soil polluted with heavy metals (HMs) is a matter of concern in current scenario. In agriculture, contaminants have negative effects on both crop quality and their yields. Mycoremediation is a new technology for the reduction of petroleum hydrocarbons and HMs through fungal strains. The efficient fungal strains play a significant role in the decomposition of contaminants and keep environment clean. They are good decomposers which degrade the cellulose and lignin of plants. It also helps in breaking down various toxic substances and helps to sustain soil health. Fungi like mushroom, Trichoderma spp., help to concentrate and absorb HMs which act as hyperaccumulator. Mushrooms are fungi which secrete certain enzymes or biocatalysts and are able to biodegrade a varied variety of agro-industrial wastes into products and transform industrial waste and environmentally persistent pollutants. In addition, the potential fungal species are also known to improve and boost plant yield, development, and growth.