Role of Micro-Organisms in Bioremediation

Abstract

The astonishing metabolic abilities of the microbes should be harnessed to obtain new breakthroughs in evolution of degradation pathways and development of newer strategies for bioremediation and biotransformation process. Trichoderma species are important biological control agents used in plant disease management. Other than biocontrol properties they share a very unique phenomenon of soil bioremediation. In this context, bioremediation of soil cover restoring of soil microbiota is of particular importance. Introduction of microorganisms to soil is one of the most promising current approaches to improving soil production both in agriculture and forestry. The co-culture use of different species/strains of Trichoderma has already been reported in higher and quicker ways of solid waste decomposition than the use of a single species/strain. By virtue of the ability of Trichoderma spp. to decompose organic matter, they are free-living in soil as saprophytes. However, these species also have the capability to live on other fungi, and the ability to colonize plant roots and rhizosphere. In this chapter, the role of different micro-organisms including fungi and bacteria in bioremediation has been discussed. Further, it has been elaborated that how biocontrol agent Trichoderma spp. can be utilized in bioremediation and how it plays significant role in this process of bioremediation.