pollutants. Thus, different strategies can enhance the rate of degradation or transformation of metabolites which can be further utilized for the large-scale application
of myco-remediation.
Keywords Bioremediation · Dyes · Fungi · Heavy metals · Pesticides · Polycyclic
aromatic hydrocarbons
7.1 Introduction
Vast numbers of fungi (more than 1.5 million species) inhabit on the Earth, living on
the soil and rocks, under the soil and/or associated with different plant bodies.
Fungal kingdom comprises single cellular and multicellular fungi that are spread
all over the world wherein four major phyla are divided, namely chitridiomycetes,
zygomycetes, ascomycetes and basidiomycetes (Hibbett et al. 2007). Generally,
fungal decay types mainly categorized into three parts based on their type of
degradation that comprises white rot, brown rot, and soft rot (Rudakiya and Gupte
2017, 2019a). Fungi can convert various organic and inorganic contaminants
wherein dyes, metals, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and phenols are included.
Fungal kingdom possesses more than 1 lakh known species which are capable
enough to degrade the hazardous contaminants. Among these fungi, Ascomycetes,
Basidiomycetes, and subphylum mucoromycotina are the potential degraders of the
contaminants; however, other fungi are very few times reported for the bioremediation (Fig. 7.1).
Brown Rot Fungi Brown rot fungi show the effective degradation of cellulose and
hemicellulose in lignocelluloses, but the degradation of lignin is limited. It is caused
by majority of ascomycetes and some of basidiomycetes (Schwarze 2008). As brown
rot fungi favor the degradation of carbohydrates such as cellulose and hemicellulose,
the decayed wood shows the brittle nature. Fomitopsis pinicola and Laetiporus
sulphureus are the example of typical brown rot (Schwarze et al. 2003).
Soft Rot Fungi Soft rot decay is generally caused by Ascomycetes and
deuteromycetes fungi (Raberg et al. 2009). Compositional study shows that lower
methoxy content of wood lignin is observed in soft rot decay (Rabinovich et al.
2004). Ligninolytic enzymes presented in soft rot fungi are not efficient to degrade
the guaiacyl lignin; however, they can efficiently attack on the syringyl lignin and
degrade it efficiently (Nilsson et al. 1989).
White Rot Fungi Fungi causing the white rot mainly belong to Basidiomycetes and
Ascomycetes. Traditionally, the term “White rot” is used to describe the type of
wood decay, wherein wood has a bleached appearance as majority of lignin is
degraded by the fungi, and the remaining mass is made up of cellulose and
186
D. M. Rudakiya et al.
of myco-remediation.
Keywords Bioremediation · Dyes · Fungi · Heavy metals · Pesticides · Polycyclic
aromatic hydrocarbons
7.1 Introduction
Vast numbers of fungi (more than 1.5 million species) inhabit on the Earth, living on
the soil and rocks, under the soil and/or associated with different plant bodies.
Fungal kingdom comprises single cellular and multicellular fungi that are spread
all over the world wherein four major phyla are divided, namely chitridiomycetes,
zygomycetes, ascomycetes and basidiomycetes (Hibbett et al. 2007). Generally,
fungal decay types mainly categorized into three parts based on their type of
degradation that comprises white rot, brown rot, and soft rot (Rudakiya and Gupte
2017, 2019a). Fungi can convert various organic and inorganic contaminants
wherein dyes, metals, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and phenols are included.
Fungal kingdom possesses more than 1 lakh known species which are capable
enough to degrade the hazardous contaminants. Among these fungi, Ascomycetes,
Basidiomycetes, and subphylum mucoromycotina are the potential degraders of the
contaminants; however, other fungi are very few times reported for the bioremediation (Fig. 7.1).
Brown Rot Fungi Brown rot fungi show the effective degradation of cellulose and
hemicellulose in lignocelluloses, but the degradation of lignin is limited. It is caused
by majority of ascomycetes and some of basidiomycetes (Schwarze 2008). As brown
rot fungi favor the degradation of carbohydrates such as cellulose and hemicellulose,
the decayed wood shows the brittle nature. Fomitopsis pinicola and Laetiporus
sulphureus are the example of typical brown rot (Schwarze et al. 2003).
Soft Rot Fungi Soft rot decay is generally caused by Ascomycetes and
deuteromycetes fungi (Raberg et al. 2009). Compositional study shows that lower
methoxy content of wood lignin is observed in soft rot decay (Rabinovich et al.
2004). Ligninolytic enzymes presented in soft rot fungi are not efficient to degrade
the guaiacyl lignin; however, they can efficiently attack on the syringyl lignin and
degrade it efficiently (Nilsson et al. 1989).
White Rot Fungi Fungi causing the white rot mainly belong to Basidiomycetes and
Ascomycetes. Traditionally, the term “White rot” is used to describe the type of
wood decay, wherein wood has a bleached appearance as majority of lignin is
degraded by the fungi, and the remaining mass is made up of cellulose and
186
D. M. Rudakiya et al.