Debamalla Pathak, Monoranjan Chowdhury, Piyush Mathur
Synthetic dyes are being extensively used in daily life in various forms, and our dependency on these dyes is increasing day by day. These hazardous chemicals can be seen affecting all forms of life in an ecosystem, such as terrestrial as well as aquatic plants and animals. Among the different biological methods, bioremediation using fungi, i.e. mycoremediation, has garnered the attention of scientists all over the World. Different classes of fungi employ distinct mechanisms of degradation, and depending upon the nature of the contaminant, fungi utilize different pathways. Biosorption, biodegradation, and enzymatic degradation are the three primary pathways through which fungi execute the decolourisation process. Mycoremediation encompasses the utilisation of fungi in various forms, including the application of immobilised fungi, enzymes derived from fungi, and the incorporation of fungal extracts into the bioremediation process. The present article delves into the mechanisms of mycoremediation for the decolourization of synthetic dyes. It comprehensively examines the aforementioned three methods and provides detailed explanations of each process that has not been previously documented. The article comprehensively discusses the advantages and limitations of mycoremediation. It also provides an insightful analysis of how these limitations can be effectively overcome through advanced methodologies such as strain enhancement and genetic engineering. This review serves as the inaugural comprehensive exploration of these innovative approaches.