The application of hydrocarbon degrading microorganisms in bioremediation applications is a promising approach to accelerate the clean-up of polluted soils. The use of microorganisms to accelerate the natural detoxification processes of toxic substances in the soil represents an alternative ecofriendly and low-cost method of environmental remediation compared to harmful incineration and chemical treatments. Although rhizobacteria found in the rhizosphere possess the ability of promoting plant growth, some rhizobacteria also have the potential of biodegradation polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Keeping this fact in mind this research work was aimed in isolation and characterization of such plant growth promoting bacteria (PGPB) which had the ability to degrade toluene as well as possess plant growth promoting traits. | Toluene degrading bacteria from the rhizosphere of Solanum melongena contaminated with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon
