ABSTRACT
Aquatic pollution is one of the grim ecological threats that the world faces, with the maintenance of appropriate water quality being a major challenge nowadays. Pollution of aquatic ecosystems has adverse impacts on the environment, public health, and economy. In view of that, there is an imperative obligation to safeguard the health of our aquatic ecosystems, and restoration of polluted aquatic environs has attracted worldwide attention. This review provides an overview of different types of aquatic pollutants, their consequences, and mitigation of these pollutants through mycoremediation. Emphasis is laid on different fungal species with their role in mycoremediation of chemical, suspended matter, microbiological, nutrient, groundwater, and oxygen depleting aquatic pollutants into environmentally less detrimental products via diverse mechanisms. Fungi execute a key function in environment cleanup through remediation of aquatic pollutants owing to their diverse metabolic capability comprising well-known fungal enzymes viz., catalases (CAT), cellulases, chitinases, cytochrome P450 monooxygenases, laccases, ligninase, lignocellulases, pectinases, peroxidases, oxidases, and xylanases. Further, this chapter provides comprehensive information about the mycoremediation potential of vast fungal diversity and can serve as a baseline for the selection and use of fungi either independently or in a consortium for forthcoming mycoremediation projects of aquatic ecosystems.
