The present study was carried out to evaluate the effects of different fungal species
on the metal uptake from paper sludge by Hemarthria compressa L. Paper sludge (PS) in various
concentrations (0, 30 and 60%) were used with four treatments of two fungal species (F0 = Control,
F1 = Aspergillus niger, F2 = Trichoderma pseudokoningii, F3 = A. niger + T. pseudokoningii). Paper sludge
as rooting medium steadily influenced growth and physio-biochemical attributes of H. compressa in
F0. Results revealed discrete variations in growth attributes with different PS concentrations and
each fungal treatment. The maximum damages in ionic homeostasis (Na+, K+, Ca2+, Mg2+) due to
PS toxicity were evident in parallel with declined chlorophyll concentration. The highest growth,
total chlorophyll and biomass of the plants were observed when PS was treated with combined
fungal strains (F3). Translocation factor decreased with F3 that is indicative of changes in Cd, Pb, and
Cu movement to shoot from root. The plants with combined fungal treatment also showed greater
catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and peroxidase (POD) activity. Ions, such as Ca, Mg,
and Na, also increased gradually with combined fungal treatment. The correlation matrix displayed
a close association among diverse fungal and PS levels with multiple plant attributes. PCA-Biplot
confirmed the outcome of correlational analyses among different characters of H. compressa. The
combined fungal mediate the extraction of heavy metals from the paper sludge by H. compressa
recommends the high accumulation of heavy metal (HM) and possible reutilization of metal free
sludge as a fertilizer, for application in cultivated fields. Furthermore, the effects of fungal species on
HM attenuation in PS are linear and can be used in different habitats. Advancement in such research
work will also be helpful in understanding the mechanisms and enhancing the ability of other native
microbes to remediate metals.