enzymes (Phan and Sabaratnam 2012). The spent residues from mushroom industries are still considered waste to be disposed of, and, thus, the application of
commercially edible fungi spawn (i.e., P. ostreatus, A. bisporus) in bioremediation
trials represents a valid alternative to disposal. In this respect, P. ostreatus refuse
from commercial mushroom production was exploited as a source of viable mycelia
to remediate contaminated soils under field conditions as reported in the previous
section.
22.8 Conclusions
The potentialities of fungi in the remediation of contaminated matrices were
highlighted and the shortcomings that make this technology still unsuitable for
large-scale trials were also analyzed in this chapter. A step forward in the application
of fungal-based technology for the treatment of polluted environmental matrices is
strongly required. In this respect, a more comprehensive knowledge of the ecology
and physiology of fungi in their natural environment is needed, with specific regard
to the condition when fungi come in contact with the recalcitrant organic pollutants.
With this regard, the recent advances in genomics have triggered a revolution in
understanding even the most complex biological systems. Nowadays, indeed, these
innovative molecular biology techniques allow gaining insight into the structure and
dynamics of microbial community during the fungal colonization of contaminated
solid matrices as well as into the interactions between allochthonous and autochthonous species.
Mycoremediation, as all the other bioremediation technologies, cannot be considered as “the” method of choice nowadays, but it still deserves attention because
the combination of fungal treatment with bacteria-based approaches or with
phytoremediation could overcome the limitations associated with their stand-alone
application.
References
Anasonye F, Winquist E, Räsänen M, Kontro J, Björklöf K, Vasilyeva G, Jørgensen KS, Steffen
KT, Tuomela M (2015) Bioremediation of TNT contaminated soil with fungi under laboratory
and pilot scale conditions. Int Biodeterior Biodegrad 105:7–12. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ibiod.
2015.08.003
Axtell C, Johnston CG, Bumpus JA (2000) Bioremediation of soil contaminated with explosives at
the naval weapons station Yorktown. J Soil Contam 9(6):537–548. https://doi.org/10.1080/
10588330091134392
Baldrian P (2003) Interactions of heavy metals with white-rot fungi. Enzym Microb Technol 32
(1):78–91. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0141-0229(02)00245-4
Baldrian P (2008) Wood-inhabiting ligninolytic basidiomycetes in soils: ecology and constraints for
applicability in bioremediation. Fungal Ecol 1(1):4–12. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.funeco.2008.
02.001
458
T. Stella
commercially edible fungi spawn (i.e., P. ostreatus, A. bisporus) in bioremediation
trials represents a valid alternative to disposal. In this respect, P. ostreatus refuse
from commercial mushroom production was exploited as a source of viable mycelia
to remediate contaminated soils under field conditions as reported in the previous
section.
22.8 Conclusions
The potentialities of fungi in the remediation of contaminated matrices were
highlighted and the shortcomings that make this technology still unsuitable for
large-scale trials were also analyzed in this chapter. A step forward in the application
of fungal-based technology for the treatment of polluted environmental matrices is
strongly required. In this respect, a more comprehensive knowledge of the ecology
and physiology of fungi in their natural environment is needed, with specific regard
to the condition when fungi come in contact with the recalcitrant organic pollutants.
With this regard, the recent advances in genomics have triggered a revolution in
understanding even the most complex biological systems. Nowadays, indeed, these
innovative molecular biology techniques allow gaining insight into the structure and
dynamics of microbial community during the fungal colonization of contaminated
solid matrices as well as into the interactions between allochthonous and autochthonous species.
Mycoremediation, as all the other bioremediation technologies, cannot be considered as “the” method of choice nowadays, but it still deserves attention because
the combination of fungal treatment with bacteria-based approaches or with
phytoremediation could overcome the limitations associated with their stand-alone
application.
References
Anasonye F, Winquist E, Räsänen M, Kontro J, Björklöf K, Vasilyeva G, Jørgensen KS, Steffen
KT, Tuomela M (2015) Bioremediation of TNT contaminated soil with fungi under laboratory
and pilot scale conditions. Int Biodeterior Biodegrad 105:7–12. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ibiod.
2015.08.003
Axtell C, Johnston CG, Bumpus JA (2000) Bioremediation of soil contaminated with explosives at
the naval weapons station Yorktown. J Soil Contam 9(6):537–548. https://doi.org/10.1080/
10588330091134392
Baldrian P (2003) Interactions of heavy metals with white-rot fungi. Enzym Microb Technol 32
(1):78–91. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0141-0229(02)00245-4
Baldrian P (2008) Wood-inhabiting ligninolytic basidiomycetes in soils: ecology and constraints for
applicability in bioremediation. Fungal Ecol 1(1):4–12. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.funeco.2008.
02.001
458
T. Stella