Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi in Plant Tolerance to Organic Pollutants and Associated Food Safety

Abstract

Industrialization and the modern world have led to environmental contamination by organic pollutants, many of which are persistent and could engender hazardous disorders in ecosystems and living organisms including humans. Organic pollutants are phytotoxic compounds and affect the plant biochemical and physiological processes. However, plants can uptake these compounds leading to inclusion of pollutants into food chains. Nowadays, several studies have been carried out to explore and develop novel strategies that could lessen or eradicate pollution while posing no deleterious effects on the environment. Bioremediation (including phytoremediation) is green technology for the remediation of contaminated soils and water. The majority of plant species form symbiosis with mycorrhizal fungi which usually leads to improved plant resistance to organic contaminations. Therefore, plant root inoculation with mycorrhizal fungi could be a biological solution for the problem of organic pollutants.