Question

Why are fungi used in many bioremediation applications? How are they similar to bacteria?

Answer 1

Bioremediation involves the conversion of toxic pollutant to environmentally benign products by the action of different biological treatments. Fungi have a great role in bioremediation due to their morphology and diverse metabolic capacity. Bioremediation using fungi is called Mycoremediation. They employing a variety of enzymes like peroxidase, cytochrome p450, etc.

Fungi can survive in a variety of habitats and climate including extreme ones and they can propagate through spores. Some species can survive in effluent treatment plants. All this makes fungi as potential candidates for the process of bioremediation.

One example is given below.

1. White-Rot Fungi

Degrade ligninious material, Endocrine-disrupting chemicals, pharmaceuticals, and personal care products. Phanerochaete chysosprium, Trametes versicolor, Bjerkandera adjusta and Pleurotus sp.

P.osteratus showed better removal of phenantherene.

Some can live in high saline conditions and in extreme PH. They can also tolerate heavy metals such as copper and lead. Mucor, Aspergillus, Pensillium, etc. have slime mold that has bioremediation potential for crude oil fractions.

They can live in extreme conditions. Cryptococcus sp. isolated from deep-sea showed tolerance and growth in such high extreme conditions.

Fungi have different enzyme can be used for bioremediations. For example Cellulase, lipase, laccases, peroxides, etc.

2. Bacterial species can detoxify heavy metals like Fungi. Some bacterias can survive in extreme conditions.

HAlophiles. Thermophiles are some examples. But most of the bacteria can't survive in this kind of extreme condition. Like fungi, they also produce some enzymes that have the capacity for bioremediation.