Fungi are distinct eukaryotic organisms renowned for their remarkable biodiversity and extensive habitat range. Many fungal species have long been exploited for food and medicines. This volume considers other important applications of fungal biotechnology especially in an environmental context, showcasing the essential contributions of these amazingly versatile organisms. It explores how fungi offer sustainable solutions to tackle various environmental concerns. Written by eminent experts in their fields, this work presents a broad array of current advances and future prospects in fungal environmental biotechnology and discusses their limitations and potential. The book is organized in five parts, each addressing a theme of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG): strengthen food security (Zero Hunger), wastewater treatment (Clean Water & Sanitation), pollution reduction (Life on Land), biofuel production (Affordable & Clean Energy) and biosynthesis of novelbiomolecules (Responsible Consumption & Production).
Introduction.- Part I. Fungal Biotechnology in Agriculture and Their Potential Contributions Towards Food Security.- Fungi in Composting.- The Genetic Basis of Abiotic Stress Resistance in Extremophilic Fungi: The Genes Cloning and Application.- Fungi as an Alternative to Agrochemicals to Control Plant Diseases.- Part II. Providing Sustainable and Environmentally-Friendly Solutions to Treat Wastewater.- Application of Biological Adsorption and Biodegradation Function of Fungi in Wastewater and Sludge Treatment.- Potential of White-Rot Fungi to Treat Xenobiotic-Containing Wastewater.- Fungal Bioremediation of Emerging Micropollutants in Municipal Wastewaters.- Application of Microalgae and Fungal - Microalgal Associations for Wastewater Treatment.- Part III. Mycoremediation: Fungi as Prolific Degraders to Control Waste and Reduce Pollution.- Mycoremediation of Organic Pollutants: Principles, Opportunities and Pitfalls.- White and Brown Rot Fungi as Decomposers of Lignocellulosic Materials and Their Role in Waste and Pollution Control.- Mycoremediation of Heavy Metal/Metalloid-Contaminated Soil: Current Understanding and Future Prospects.- Part IV. Biotechnology to Reduce Reliance on Fossil Fuels: From Biomass to Biofuel.- Fungi in Consolidated Bioprocessing of Lignocellulosic Materials.- Fungal Enzyme and Their Role in Bioenergy.- Part V. Fungi as Biofactories and Other Biotechnological Applications.- Fungal Biosynthesis of Nanoparticles, a Cleaner Alternative.- Unravelling the Chemical Interactions of Fungal Endophytes for Exploitation as Microbial Factories.- Geomycology.
