Fungal endophytes: Futuristic tool in recent research area of phytoremediation
Samapika Nandy, Tuyelee Das, Champa Keeya Tudu, Devendra Kumar Pandey, Abhijit Dey, Puja Ray
Abstract
Endophytic fungi interact with their hosts via different mode of action, that includes many physiological and mechanical control mechanisms, which have attributed cumulatively to their better survival potential. Moreover, the interaction influences the overall productivity of the host organisms, their growth enhancement, and efficient carbon metabolism processes. In some cases, host-endophyte symbiotic co-evolution strategy is exploited against critical environmental conditions like heavy metal pollution, soil contamination through different phytoremediation processes. The phytoremediation is the eco-friendly alternative strategy to remove environmental contaminants or toxic pollutants from soil, air or water using plants. The ability to sequester, detoxify, accumulate or extract environmentally hazardous pollutants is highly attributed by specialized endogenous physio-chemical properties of the plants. The introduction of novel mechanisms like augmentation, organic and inorganic transformation and rock weathering has enabled endophytic fungi to act as potent agent of phytoremediation, without impairing the sustainable growth and metabolism of the host. Endophyte-assisted phytoremediation technique is the futuristic in situ form of cleansing bio-hazardous contaminants, metals and metalloid pollutants, carcinogenic agents, industrial organic waste materials, inorganic pesticides and herbicides, hydrocarbon based elements and chlorinated products from nature. It functions as multi-factorial sustainable pollution control strategy with low environmental impact and operating expenses. The present review is a summarized approach to highlight the undercurrent operating mechanism involved in the endophytic fungi mediated phytoremediation techniques. In addition to that, different strategies with their constraints and application of transgenic technology in this novel field of research, are discussed elaborately.