Methylobacterium populi VP2: Plant Growth-Promoting Bacterium Isolated from a Highly Polluted Environment for Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon (PAH) Biodegradation

Table 3

The effect of phenanthrene (PHE) and M.  populi VP2 on the germination rate (%) of tomato seeds^a.

Time (days)	Control^b	M.  populi VP2^c	PHE^d	PHE + M.   populi VP2^e
7 d	14.81 ± 6.41^A	37.03 ± 6.41^A	0 ± 0^C	0 ± 0^C
14 d	14.81 ± 6.41^A	88.89 ± 11.11^B	0 ± 0^C	18.52 ± 6.41^A
21 d	14.81 ± 6.41^A	92.59 ± 6.41^B	0 ± 0^C	77.78 ± 11.11^B

aThe values represent the means ± SD of three replicates of independent experiments. Different letters after the values indicate significant differences (𝑃 ≤ 0.01; 𝑡 test).
^bSeeds irrigated with M9 medium supplemented with soil extract (10%).
^cSeeds irrigated with M9 medium supplemented with soil extract (10%) and inoculated with M.  populi VP2 (10⁶ cells g⁻¹).
^dSeeds irrigated with M9 medium supplemented with soil extract (10%) and phenanthrene (200 mg L⁻¹).
^eSeeds irrigated with M9 medium supplemented with soil extract (10%) and phenanthrene (200 mg L⁻¹) and inoculated with M.  populi VP2 (10⁶ cells g⁻¹).