Abstract
Continuous exploitation of petroleum hydrocarbons in various industries has led to their release as hazardous pollutants into the environment. Contamination by these polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons had negatively shifted the structures of the rhizobial community, soil properties, ecological functions and human health. Hence, clean-up of hydrocarbon-contaminated soil by a low-cost and effective strategy is the need of the hour. Among physical, chemical and biological methods, the biological method utilizing the efficiency of endophytes in reclamation of polluted soil is eco-friendly and cost-effective. Fungi (Endophytic fungi) are ubiquitous species that have the genetic potential to remediate the hydrocarbons in the soil in association with plants. This review highlights the hydrocarbon remediation mechanisms adopted by endophytic fungi which could be made used in the development of eco-friendly, sustainable-low-cost remediation technology to restore polluted soil.
Key words: Keywords: Phytoremediation, Hydrocarbon, Contamination, Endophytic fungi, Green surfactants, Secondary metabolites.
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