Book Volume 4
Preface
Page: ii-ii (1)
Author: Shanthipriya Ajmera, B. Bhima, Krishnappa M. and Ramchander Merugu
DOI: 10.2174/9789815040340122020002
The Versatile Potential of Fungi in Human Life and Ecosystem
Page: 1-14 (14)
Author: Divya Ajmeera, Gokul Shankar Sabesan and Shanthipriya Ajmera*
DOI: 10.2174/9789815040340122020006
PDF Price: $30
Abstract
Fungi play a major role in the well-being of human life as they are involved
in health and nutrition processes on a large scale and are a major component of the
global economy. Furthermore, they are the natural nutrient recyclers in the environment
and thus balance the ecosystem. Also, through mycorhizal relationships, the fungi help
in enhancing soil fertility by increasing the surface area for absorption of nutrients such
as phosphorous, nitrogen, sulfur, etc., and other minerals such as zinc and copper. As
fungi interact with various plant pathogens affecting crop production, they can be used
as Microbial biological control agents or biopesticides and can be replaced for the
usage of hazardous chemical pesticides for controlling plant pathogens. Here, we tried
to explain the fungal importance to mankind and the ecosystem by listing its various
applications in human life.
Mycobiota - Role in Soil Health and as Biocontrol Agent
Page: 15-34 (20)
Author: S. Vanitha* and A. Sai Padma
DOI: 10.2174/9789815040340122020007
PDF Price: $30
Abstract
Soil health or soil quality is governed by a continuous, functional interplay
between the soil and its microbiota, plants and animals. Soil quality is crucial for
sustainable agriculture production and for nurturing the health of all living organisms.
It is therefore in the best interest of society to prioritize sustainable soil management
practices for future generations. Microbes play a vital role in maintaining ecosystems
by coordinating with plants to facilitate nutrient and organic matter cycling. A
consortium of fungi plays a critical role in degrading and transforming dead organic
matter into suitable forms that can be reused by other organisms. As ecosystem
regulators, fungi enhance the structure of soil formation and regulate physiological
processes within the soil, making it a supportive habitat for other living organisms.
They also help in controlling plant diseases and pest infestations by acting as biocontrol
agents. Understanding the roles of fungi and soil enzymes in the earth’s
biogeochemical cycles can facilitate improved agricultural productivity and
sustainability. For example, increasing the diversity of beneficial fungi in a habitat
improves soil fertility, supporting sustainable production of plant based products while
mitigating the application of undesirable chemicals as pest control agents.
Fungi Role in Soil Fertility
Page: 35-51 (17)
Author: Arnav Walia, Debarati Paul*, Soma Mukherjee and Madhusudhan Reddy D.
DOI: 10.2174/9789815040340122020008
PDF Price: $30
Abstract
Fungi are an important component of microbial ecology. These are a
community of eukaryotic species and food sources, organic acids, alcohol, antibiotics,
growth-enhancing compounds, enzymes, and amino acids. Fungi contain many
microorganisms under the expanse, which include molds, yeasts, and mushrooms. The
function of fungi primarily includes the biodegradation of organic waste material and
the action on cellulose, lignins, gums, and other organic compounds. Fungi are present
everywhere, i.e., they are cosmopolitan, surviving the wide range of pH and
temperature. Fungi play a key role in numerous biological cycles, including mineral
and water absorption, chemical transition, stomatal activity, and biosynthesis of
substances, including biostimulants, auxins, lignan, and ethylene, increasing the
functionality of plant species to identify and cope with adaptive challenges, such as
drought, salinity, humidity, cold and significant metals. The interaction of fungi with
plants can be represented by three terms, namely, mutualism (mycorrhizal association),
pathogenicity (parasitic fungi), and nutrient cycling (saprophytic fungi). The
application of cultivating fungi as a soil quality booster has been highlighted as it
produces various extracellular enzymes, which are integral components of nutrient
cycling within natural and disturbed ecosystems.
The Symbiotic Relationship Between Fungi and Plants
Page: 52-74 (23)
Author: Souvik Roy* and Lopamudra Choudhury
DOI: 10.2174/9789815040340122020009
PDF Price: $30
Abstract
There are many non-saprophytic fungi that are involved in symbiotic
relationships with higher plants, which include both mutualism and parasitism. The
most common mutualistic relationship involving fungi belonging to Ascomycota,
Basidiomycota, or Zygomycota, and roots of 90% of all vascular land plants is termed
mycorrhiza. In this association, the fungus grows on ectomycorrhiza or in
endomycorrhiza, the roots of most terrestrial plants. The mycorrhizal fungus benefits
from the carbohydrates that the host plant provides, whereas the latter is benefitted
from the extensive fungal mycelia that have a greater surface area and penetrate not
only deep down but also go distantly within the soil to procure water and water-soluble
essential nutrients, especially nitrogen and phosphorus, for the host. Also, the
mycorrhizal fungi offer increased protection to their host plants against some
phytopathogens. As mycorrhizal associations are found in early fossil records, it is
believed that they allowed the early terrestrial plants to colonize and survive. Another
fungus–plant mutualism involves the endophytic fungi that usually dwell inside the
tissues of the host plant, release toxins to repel the herbivores, and also impart
resistance to the plant against environmental stresses. On the other hand, fungi parasitic
on host plants live in or on them, use specialised structures called haustoria to procure
nutrients from them, and produce necrosis-promoting enzymes. This may lead to some
of the most devastating diseases in the crop plants, eventually killing them and severely
affecting the country’s economy
Fungi and their Importance in Sustainable Agriculture
Page: 75-98 (24)
Author: N. Rajesh, A. Shiva Shankar and P. Osman Basha*
DOI: 10.2174/9789815040340122020010
PDF Price: $30
Abstract
Soil fungi constitute a key component of agroecosystems because they
provide green services that influence food and bio-product production. Entophytic
fungi play a major role in growth promotion and relieve biotic and abiotic stresses in
plants. Phyto-hormones, antimicrobial agents, agrochemical bioactive metabolites
produced by fungal endophytes enhance sustainable agriculture. Because of soaring
cost and pollution-related issues, interest has shifted towards various methods like the
use of biofertilizers and bioinsecticides to control pests. Biofertilizers and
bioinsecticides are safe and cost-effective alternatives to chemical pesticides and are
considered high potential fertilizers because of their wide range of plant growthpromoting activities. The present chapter describes the role of endophytic fungi in the
agriculture sector.
Plant Growth-promoting Fungi: Mechanisms and Applications
Page: 99-122 (24)
Author: S. Sreedevi*, P. Padmalatha and Anjana Shukla
DOI: 10.2174/9789815040340122020011
PDF Price: $30
Abstract
Soil is one of the main habitats of fungi and bacteria, and their interactions
with the host plant help and promote plant growth and productivity in agriculture.
Agronomists and environmentalists are focussing on sustainably managing the
agroecosystem by using plant growth-promoting microbes (PGPM). They include
bacteria called plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) and fungi referred to as
plant growth-promoting fungi (PGPF). Plant growth-promoting fungi (PGPF) are
nonpathogenic soil-borne fungi that establish a positive interaction with plants in the
rhizosphere. PGPF can improve crop productivity by improving seed germination
vigour root and shoot morphogenesis, and flowering through direct or indirect
mechanisms, which include solubilizing nutrients, regulating hormones, producing
enzymes, organic compounds, resistance to abiotic stress, and suppressing
phytopathogens. The utilization of PGPF can be considered an eco-friendly method of
improving crop production. The potential effective microbes may also be added in the
form of biopesticides and biofertilizers promoting the growth of plants. The use of new
biotechnological tools to aid genetic engineering of the PGPF has resulted in genetic
transformation and overexpression of synergistic action of one or more traits, which
could enhance plant growth, confer improved crop benefits, and produce sustainable
yield. The chapter describes the diversity of PGPF found in the soil and their role in
promoting plant growth and yield. The chapter also discusses the various mechanisms
of PGPF interactions with plants and their beneficial roles in promoting crop
productivity leading to sustainable agriculture.
Mycorrhizae as Bioinoculants and their Molecular Studies
Page: 123-133 (11)
Author: Sanjeev Kumar K, Revathi Desai and Pavan Kumar Pindi*
DOI: 10.2174/9789815040340122020012
PDF Price: $30
Abstract
Several studies on bioinoculants have been conducted in order to address
the most serious threat to our nation's security, namely food security. This problem can
be solved by re-evaluating our practises and skills in order to increase food production
through the use of sustainable farming methods. Several microorganisms can be found
in rhizospheric soils in nature. These organisms solubilize nutrients and facilitate
nutrient uptake by plant roots, promoting plant growth through natural processes such
as nutrient cycling and absorption, stress tolerance, immunity induction, and so on.
Microbes include mycorrhizae, cyanobacteria, bacteria, actinomycetes, and others.
Plant growth-promoting microorganisms rely heavily on mycorrhizae (PGPM). So far,
seven different types of mycorrhizae have been identified. The arbuscular and
ectomycorrhizal fungi are the most numerous and widespread mycorrhizae. Arbuscular
mycorrhizae (AM) fungi are important in improving soil physicochemical properties
and interacting with other PGPM such as phosphate solubilizing bacteria, nitrogen
fixers, and so on. Chemical fertilisers used in agricultural fields reduce AM and its
potency. Because these organisms cannot be cultured, PCR techniques can be used to
obtain sufficient amounts of DNA from them. The focus of this chapter has been on
arbuscular mycorrhizae (AM) fungi. An attempt was made to study AM fungi
colonisation using PCR in order to better understand its efficiency. Such research
contributes to the goal of transforming food insecurity into food security.
Mushroom Cultivation Using Agricultural Wastes
Page: 134-148 (15)
Author: M. Krishnappa*, R. Kantharaja and M. Puneeth
DOI: 10.2174/9789815040340122020013
PDF Price: $30
Abstract
Mushrooms are protein-rich, highly nutritive, popular food around the
world. The cultivation of mushrooms has been in practice for decades. Studies have
been conducted to utilize the agricultural waste, and agro-forest remains as the
substrate for mushroom production. Agri wastes such as wheat straw, paddy straw,
bran, coffee grounds, banana leaves, sawdust, etc., are highly used, and the availability
of such substrates is not common among the cultivating areas. Besides the development
of new protocols and the invention of a perfect combination of the substrate and
supplements is an ongoing interest in the mushroom production industry. In Karnataka,
agricultural remains such as areca husk, sugar cane bagasse, paddy straw, and maize
stem are available to use for mushroom cultivation. Also, agro-forest residues like
Cassia tora are a substantial material to turn waste into the substrate. This chapter is an
approach towards such substrate utilization to improve the economy of the farmer
community and a promotion towards sustainable mushroom production.
Fungi: An Environment-friendly Approach for the Growth of Plants
Page: 149-158 (10)
Author: Aparna B. Gunjal*
DOI: 10.2174/9789815040340122020014
PDF Price: $30
Abstract
The use of chemical fertilizers improves plant growth growth and causes
pollution, affecting human health. The use of microorganisms to increase the plant
yield has many advantages viz., eco-friendly, economical, and easy. The fungi produce
many secondary metabolites and can be used to promote plant growth. This will be a
sustainable approach and also avoid pollution. The fungi produce plant growth
promoting substances, act as strong biocontrol agents, and also show antimicrobial
effects against the harmful pathogens, thus preventing the diseases of the plants. This
chapter focuses on the importance of fungi in agriculture, which will help farmers. The
solid-state fermentation using Aspergillus sp. for plant growth-promoting substances is
also mentioned in the chapter. The chapter is significant as it highlights the use of the
biological process to improve plant growth, which is the need of the hour.
Fungal Metabolites: Industrial Applications and Challenges
Page: 159-201 (43)
Author: Amol Sawant, Hemlata Sajwan and Koteswara Rao V*
DOI: 10.2174/9789815040340122020015
PDF Price: $30
Abstract
Fungi are the second largest group of eukaryotes and play a vital role in the
biological system. These fungi are cell factories that produce a variety of industrially
important secondary metabolites (SM) that are beneficial for humans, animals, and the
environment. Microorganisms are a rich source of natural compounds with a significant
commercial value; on the other hand, they produce low-quality products that may not
satisfy industrial standards for commercialization. Numerous fungal species produce
key industrial enzymes, antibiotics, anticancer drugs, cholesterol-lowering drugs, and
immunosuppressants. Antibiotics belonging to the β lactam family are the most often
prescribed antibiotics worldwide. Penicillin has a core structure, 6-amino penicillanic
acid (6-APA), interwoven with the ß-lactam ring and drives the development of
semisynthetic antibiotics. Several dermatophytoses are treated with griseofulvin (GRI),
and mycophenolic acid (MPA), and the cholesterol-lowering drugs (lovastatin and
compactin) are produced from Aspergillus and Penicillium species, respectively. The
SM is also effective against most of the pandemic novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV2),
human immuno virus (HIV), and influenza virus (H1N1) strains protease inhibitors that
limit virus propagation. Furthermore, natural antioxidants (amanitin, ferulic acid,
resveratrol, and flavonoids) are synthetically conjugated or co-crystallized with active
SM for clinical uses. Many biosynthetic gene clusters, comparative genomics, and
functional transcripts are encoded in fungal genomes, reigniting interest in discovering
new compounds. The strong transcriptional regulation likely clarifies the metabolic
routes in the genome. Viable approaches necessitate the availability of genome
sequences, molecular tools, and a strategy tailored to alter the genomes of specific
strains for industrially significant molecules. Researchers have devised a new strategy
for strain generation of various genetic engineering tools, involving recombinant DNA
technology, protein engineering, metabolite flux pathways, and synthetic biology
approaches, using a basic understanding of genetic makeup.
Microbiome Perspective: Multisectorial Exploitations of Chitinases
Page: 202-219 (18)
Author: Bhagwan Rekadwad*, Juan M. Gonzalez, Sujit Shah, Mangesh Vasant Suryavanshi, Chandrahasya N. Khobragade and Ashish Janraoji Warghane
DOI: 10.2174/9789815040340122020016
PDF Price: $30
Abstract
Chitinases are cosmopolitan lytic enzymes secreted by microbiomes that fall
under the domain of fungi, yeasts, bacteria and plants. Most fungal plant pathogens,
human infectious agents and post-harvest damage caused by pathogens have been a
serious threat to the economy and human health. Like fungi, crabs, insects, lobsters,
shrimps, and invertebrates all have a hard disintegrating, flexible polymer called chitin
that forms the exterior skeleton. It poses a wide-range of environmental problem and a
major threat to humans, plants and animals. According to functional genomic research,
there is a large diversity of chitinases-producing fungi in nature. They have adapted to
a wide range of habitats on Earth including plants, animals and manmade natural and
artificial habitats. Chitinases, both native and genetically modified, have been produced
and expressed in an expression system such as Escherichia coli or Pichia pastoris
through recombinant DNA technology. This versatile recombinant chitinases can be
used for long-term growth and productivity. As a whole, chitinases have a wide range
of applications in agriculture, horticulture , plant health, and bio-control of pests, and even some fuel processing, genetically engineered molecule-based therapies,
polysaccharide hydrolysis, biomedicine, pathogenic/virulence agents, antifungal
agents, and as a drug delivery system.
Fungal Pectinases
Page: 220-237 (18)
Author: Soma Mrudula*
DOI: 10.2174/9789815040340122040017
PDF Price: $30
Abstract
Commercial Fungal Exopolysaccharides: Botryosphaeran, Pullulan, and Scleroglucan
Page: 238-254 (17)
Author: Valerie Gonsalves* and Sheryanne Velho Pereira*
DOI: 10.2174/9789815040340122040018
PDF Price: $30
Abstract
Biotechnological Production of Various Fungal Metabolites and their Applications in White Biotechnology
Page: 255-286 (32)
Author: Bhima Bhukya*, Chandrasekhar Banoth, Praveen K. Keshav, MD. Saddam Hussain and Shanthipriya Ajmera
DOI: 10.2174/9789815040340122040019
PDF Price: $30
Abstract
Marine Fungal Metabolites: Source of Nextgeneration Antibiotics for Human Microbial Pathogens
Page: 287-299 (13)
Author: Immanuel Suresh. J* and Abinayalakshmi S
DOI: 10.2174/9789815040340122040020
PDF Price: $30
Abstract
Mycosynthesis of Nanoparticles and their Applications
Page: 300-327 (28)
Author: A. Shiva Shanker, N. Rajesh and Pindi Pavan Kumar*
DOI: 10.2174/9789815040340122040021
PDF Price: $30
Abstract
Fungal Mediated Synthesis of Nanoparticles: Characterization and Bioapplications
Page: 328-358 (31)
Author: G. Bhagavanth Reddy, D. Ramakrishna, S. Kondaiah and K. Girija Mangatayaru*
DOI: 10.2174/9789815040340122040022
PDF Price: $30
Abstract
Thermophilic Fungi and their Applications in Biotechnology
Page: 359-383 (25)
Author: Santoshkumar Jayagoudar, Ch Ramesh, Pradeep Kumar, Aditya Banyal, Bhagwan Rekadwad, Ramchander Merugu, Tiina Nõges and Rahul Kumar*
DOI: 10.2174/9789815040340122040023
PDF Price: $30
Abstract
Thermophilic fungal genes encoding lipase, protease, and various other vital enzymes
Biodegradation of Plastic by Fungi
Page: 384-401 (18)
Author: Dibyajit Lahiri, Moupriya Nag, Sougata Ghosh and Rina Rani Ray*
DOI: 10.2174/9789815040340122040024
PDF Price: $30
Abstract
Red Oleaginous Yeast: Powerhouse of Basidiomycetes
Page: 402-411 (10)
Author: Sweta Sinha, Arshad Jawed, Madhusudhan Reddy D. and Debarati Paul*
DOI: 10.2174/9789815040340122040025
PDF Price: $30
Abstract
Mycoremediation of Synthetic and Xenobiotic Compounds
Page: 412-429 (18)
Author: Debashree Borthakur*
DOI: 10.2174/9789815040340122040026
PDF Price: $30
Abstract
Bioremediation of Cypermethrin by Fungi
Page: 430-446 (17)
Author: Vrushali Wagh*, Nafisa Patel, Bharatkumar Sapkal and Shanthipriya Ajmera
DOI: 10.2174/9789815040340122040027
PDF Price: $30
Abstract
Subject Index
Page: 447-466 (20)
Author: Shanthipriya Ajmera, B. Bhima, Krishnappa M. and Ramchander Merugu
DOI: 10.2174/9789815040340122040028
Introduction
Sustainable Utilization of Fungi in Agriculture and Industry covers current knowledge about of different fungal microorganisms, including economically important filamentous fungi and yeasts. 22 chapters summarize recent information about scientific investigations and the application of fungi in the production of industrial enzymes, organic acids (citric acid, lactic acid, etc.), biofuel (ethanol, H2 gas) and bioactive compounds for sustainable processes in agriculture, bioremediation, industries and therapeutics. Each chapter gives an updated and detailed account of knowledge on fungal microbes and their sustainable utilization in agriculture, white biotechnology, and other valuable industrial applications. Contributions are made by academic and professional experts in mycology and industrial biotechnology, presenting a broad perspective of the field in a simple, yet engaging style. Sustainable Utilization of Fungi in Agriculture and Industry is an informative reference for general readers, trainees, interested in sustainability measures in agriculture and industry. It also serves as reading materials for scholars, students and teachers involved in botany, microbiology, biotechnology and life sciences courses.