The Microbiome of olive mill wastes

Abstract

Olive mill wastes (OMWs) pose a significant environmental threat due to their high-strength organic nature, which can harm soil and water quality and have adverse effects on aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. This review paper aims to present an updated understanding of the microbial communities found in OMWs over the past two decades, employing both culture-dependent and independent approaches. Through a comprehensive survey of 16S rRNA gene sequences from various olive mill waste environments, researchers have identified the prevalence of Alphaproteobacteria, Betaproteobacteria, Gammaproteobacteria, Firmicutes, and Actinobacteria. The alarming detection of fecal bacteria and human pathogens in OMWs raises considerable concern and calls for further investigation. Although previous research has primarily focused on using known bacterial and fungal species from different environments for olive mill waste degradation, the untapped biotechnological potential of native microbiota demands greater exploration for the bioremediation of OMWs and the eradication of plant and human pathogens.