The application of fungus first came into attention for clean-up of polluted soil
during the mid-1980s (Magan et al. 2010). The degradative ability to attack the wood
of white-rot fungi was identified. White-rot fungi is a class of microorganisms that
includes Pleurotus ostreatus, Phanerochaete chrysosporium and Trametes
versicolor that produce efficient biocatalyst that can remediate a variety of organic
pollutants, and the degradation activity is because of the lignin-degrading system of
the fungi (Haritash and Kaushik 2009; Magan et al. 2010). It is also competent in
decomposing dyes under aerobic conditions, and due to the production
oxidoreductases, they are potent in degrading lignin and other aromatic compounds
related to dyes (Ali 2010; Coelho et al. 2015). Lignin is a naturally occurring threedimensional polymer present in woody plants and structurally complex; that is why
it is resistant to microbial degradation (Magan et al. 2010). The fungal culture of
Phanerochaete chrysosporium is well studied for its bioremediation capability, as
well as Nematoloma spp. and Pleurotus spp. which can remediate a wide range of
polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) include anthracene, pyrene, di- and
tri-benzoic acids, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), 2,3,7,8-tetrachloro dibenzo-pdioxin, ichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT), lindane, and chlordane. It is also
been utilized as a model for the study of bioremediation of DDT, 2,3,7,8
tetrachloro-dibenzo-p-dioxin, lindane and benzopyrene as it helps in oxidation of
organo-pollutants into CO 2 by the use of its enzyme system that degrades even under
conditions when nitrogen is deficient (Nawaz et al. 2011; Salam and Das 2012).
White-rot fungi, Trametes pubescens, was demonstrated as an efficient
bioremediating agent for treating phenolic wastewaters (Ryan et al. 2005).
The phylum Basidiomycetes accounts for about 34% among all the species of
fungi described, and it is inhabited in terrestrial environments only but very rare in
aquatic habitat (Harms et al. 2011). The most popular edible mushroom belongs to
class Basidiomycetes (Agaricus bisporus) is efficient in the accumulation of silver
(Ag) as a demonstration given by Falandysz et al., and inspected Ag uptake from
substrates which are enriched artificially. Weber and co-workers reported that
Boletus badiusis very effective in the accumulation of gold (Au) and arsenic (As),
which is reserved in different mushroom parts, gold is accumulated in cap and stalk
portion, while arsenic (As) gets collected in the hymenium region. Vetter
investigated approximately 88 species of basidiomycetes fungus, with the accumulation of different heavy metals in certain Agaricus spp. and other species Lepista
nebularis, Flammulina velutipes, Macrolepiota rhacodes, and Clitocybe inversa. A
remarkable concentration of cadmium (Cd), i.e. 35 mg/kg was noted which
accumulated in Agaricus sp. In comparison to it, the best Cd-hyperaccumulator
plant Thlaspi caerulescens can concentrate over 100 mg/kg (Pletsch et al. 1999).
Basidiomycetes species dwelling in soil and decomposes litter, i.e. Stropharia
sp. and Agrocybe sp. popular to biodegrade organic contaminants. Although the
process of mineralization of chemical substances present in the environment is not
much common in brown-rot basidiomycetes especially Gloeophyllum spp. Decompose fluoroquinolone, chlorophenols, and antibiotics. The subphylum
Pucciniomycotina of basidiomycete contains yeast mitospores belonging to the
genus Rhodotorula that metabolizes cresols, crude oil containing compounds such
434
G. Kaur et al.
during the mid-1980s (Magan et al. 2010). The degradative ability to attack the wood
of white-rot fungi was identified. White-rot fungi is a class of microorganisms that
includes Pleurotus ostreatus, Phanerochaete chrysosporium and Trametes
versicolor that produce efficient biocatalyst that can remediate a variety of organic
pollutants, and the degradation activity is because of the lignin-degrading system of
the fungi (Haritash and Kaushik 2009; Magan et al. 2010). It is also competent in
decomposing dyes under aerobic conditions, and due to the production
oxidoreductases, they are potent in degrading lignin and other aromatic compounds
related to dyes (Ali 2010; Coelho et al. 2015). Lignin is a naturally occurring threedimensional polymer present in woody plants and structurally complex; that is why
it is resistant to microbial degradation (Magan et al. 2010). The fungal culture of
Phanerochaete chrysosporium is well studied for its bioremediation capability, as
well as Nematoloma spp. and Pleurotus spp. which can remediate a wide range of
polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) include anthracene, pyrene, di- and
tri-benzoic acids, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), 2,3,7,8-tetrachloro dibenzo-pdioxin, ichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT), lindane, and chlordane. It is also
been utilized as a model for the study of bioremediation of DDT, 2,3,7,8
tetrachloro-dibenzo-p-dioxin, lindane and benzopyrene as it helps in oxidation of
organo-pollutants into CO 2 by the use of its enzyme system that degrades even under
conditions when nitrogen is deficient (Nawaz et al. 2011; Salam and Das 2012).
White-rot fungi, Trametes pubescens, was demonstrated as an efficient
bioremediating agent for treating phenolic wastewaters (Ryan et al. 2005).
The phylum Basidiomycetes accounts for about 34% among all the species of
fungi described, and it is inhabited in terrestrial environments only but very rare in
aquatic habitat (Harms et al. 2011). The most popular edible mushroom belongs to
class Basidiomycetes (Agaricus bisporus) is efficient in the accumulation of silver
(Ag) as a demonstration given by Falandysz et al., and inspected Ag uptake from
substrates which are enriched artificially. Weber and co-workers reported that
Boletus badiusis very effective in the accumulation of gold (Au) and arsenic (As),
which is reserved in different mushroom parts, gold is accumulated in cap and stalk
portion, while arsenic (As) gets collected in the hymenium region. Vetter
investigated approximately 88 species of basidiomycetes fungus, with the accumulation of different heavy metals in certain Agaricus spp. and other species Lepista
nebularis, Flammulina velutipes, Macrolepiota rhacodes, and Clitocybe inversa. A
remarkable concentration of cadmium (Cd), i.e. 35 mg/kg was noted which
accumulated in Agaricus sp. In comparison to it, the best Cd-hyperaccumulator
plant Thlaspi caerulescens can concentrate over 100 mg/kg (Pletsch et al. 1999).
Basidiomycetes species dwelling in soil and decomposes litter, i.e. Stropharia
sp. and Agrocybe sp. popular to biodegrade organic contaminants. Although the
process of mineralization of chemical substances present in the environment is not
much common in brown-rot basidiomycetes especially Gloeophyllum spp. Decompose fluoroquinolone, chlorophenols, and antibiotics. The subphylum
Pucciniomycotina of basidiomycete contains yeast mitospores belonging to the
genus Rhodotorula that metabolizes cresols, crude oil containing compounds such
434
G. Kaur et al.