Chapter 3
Endophytic Fungi Bioremediation
Yelugere L. Krishnamurthy and B. Shankar Naik
Abstract Fungal endophytes are isolated from almost every host plant studied so
far. The relationship between endophytes and host plants involves both mutualism
and antagonism. Plants have many mechanisms to limit the growth of endophytes
which include producing a variety of toxic metabolites such as terpenoides. But
over a long period of co-evolution, endophytes have gradually formed a variety of
tolerant mechanisms towards host metabolites by producing exo enzymes and
mycotoxins. These enzymes include pectinase, cellulase, lipoidase, proteinase,
phenol oxidase and lignin catabolic enzymes. When host plants die the fungi utilize
the carbon source, plant residues such as glucose, oligosaccharides, cellulose,
hemicelluloses, lignin, keratin, pectin, lipids and proteins and decomposes effec-
tively. These enzymes may also degrade macromolecule compounds into small
molecules or convert more toxic substances into less toxic in order to increase their
adaptability. The use of fungi to clean up environmental pollutants has gained
momentum in the past few years. However, most studies have focussed on white rot
fungi and use of endophytic fungi might be a novel and important source for
degradation of toxic pollutants including hydrocarbons, polychlorinated biphenyl’s
(PCBs), polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), radionuclides, and metals.
Phytoremediation is another important bioremediation aspects of endophytic fungi
in soils contaminated with hydrocarbons and heavy metals. Depolymerisations is
one of the most efficient methods of plastic waste management by endophytic
fungal enzymatic action. Complex polymers disintegrate into short chains of oli-
gomers, dimers and monomers which can act as a source of carbon and energy. The
enzymes produced by the microbes vary with the species even between strains of
the same species. Enzymes are very specific in their action on substrates so that
different enzymes help in the degradation of various types of enzymes.
Y.L. Krishnamurthy (&)
Department of P.G. Studies and Research in Applied Botany, Bioscience Complex,
Kuvempu University, Jnanasahyadri, 577 451 Shimoga, Karnataka, India
e-mail: [email protected]
B.S. Naik
Department of Biology, Govt. Science College, 577 101 Chikmagalur, Karnataka, India
e-mail: [email protected]
©Springer International Publishing AG 2017
D.K. Maheshwari and K. Annapurna (eds.),Endophytes: Crop Productivity
and Protection, Sustainable Development and Biodiversity 16,
DOI 10.1007/978-3-319-66544-3_3
47