Mycoremediation: The Role of Mushrooms in Cleaning Contaminated Agricultural Land

Abstract

Mycoremediation, the use of fungi to remove or neutralize environmental pollutants, represents a sustainable and eco-friendly approach to addressing agricultural land contamination. Mushrooms, belonging primarily to the Basidiomycetes group, possess unique enzymatic systems and biosorption capabilities that enable them to degrade pesticides, dyes, hydrocarbons, and heavy metals. The mycelium of white-rot fungi such as Phanerochaete chrysosporium and Pleurotus ostreatus secretes extracellular enzymes like laccases and peroxidases, which effectively oxidize recalcitrant organic compounds and facilitate lignin and cellulose degradation. Beyond pollutant removal, mushrooms also generate bioactive compounds, including β-glucans, polysaccharides, and sterols, with significant medicinal properties such as antitumor, immunomodulatory, antioxidant, and antimicrobial activities. Applications in agriculture highlight their potential in pesticide detoxification, heavy metal biosorption, and dye decolorization, with species such as Pleurotus pulmonarius, Ganoderma lucidum, and Trametes versicolor serving as model organisms. Furthermore, spent mushroom substrate (SMS) provides added value as a soil conditioner and biochar feedstock, enhancing soil fertility and promoting sustainable crop production. Genetic engineering and integration with plants and microbes present future opportunities to enhance efficiency and resilience. Mycoremediation thus combines environmental restoration with agricultural sustainability, offering a dual benefit of pollution control and ecosystem health improvement.