The purpose of our study was to identify the native bacteria with the ability to degrade azo dyes from the rhizosphere of Sparganium erectum L., and Typha latifolia L. plants that were grown on a drain of a textile mill. Eight and one strain with decolorization ability of Cibacron Brilliant Red EB and Terasil Red 3BL-01 were isolated from the saline rhizosphere of Sparganium erectum L. and latifolia L. plant respectively. Results showed that the bacteria isolated from the rhizosphere of Sparganium erectum L. are more capable of decolorizing azo dyes. Based on the 16S rRNA sequencing, selected strains were identified as follows: Enterobacter ludwigii strain SNP3 (OL719291), Rhodococcus fascians strain SNP5 (OL759129), Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain SNP10 (OL759126), and Bacillus safensis strain SNP13 (OL759127). The results of azo dyes biodegradation tests revealed that strains SNP10, SNP3, and SNP5 were more capable of decolorizing 94-97%, 72.53-73.8, 72.53%, and 71.13-73.5% of Cibacron Brilliant Red EB at concentration 10-20 mg/L within 72 h, respectively. Besides, strain SNP13 was the fastest strain in decolorization of Cibacron Brilliant Red EB with 68% and 59% decolorization activity at 10 and 20 mg/L respectively (24 h). Only strains SNP3 and SNP13 could decolorize 83% and 77% of Terasil Red 3BL-01 (30 mg/L), respectively. For the first time, our research findings illustrated that indigenous rhizospheric bacterial strains isolated from Sparganium erectum L. plants have the potential to apply as an azo dye breakdown tool in textile effluent treatment or other ecosystems.

Persistent pollution of surface waters by hydrocarbon compounds is one of the foremost threats to limited global freshwater resources. This study analyzed the abundance, diversity and degradative capacities of hydrocarbon-utilizing bacteria in chronically polluted Kono River in the Nigerian Niger Delta in order to establish the bacterial drivers of ecological regeneration of the river after an oil spill. The study further aimed to develop a specialized bacterial consortium for application in bioremediation interventions. Bacillus, Pseudomonas and Enterobacter spp. were predominant out of the 82 isolates obtained. Klebsiella pneumoniae and two species of Enterobacter cloacae were identified as the most efficient hydrocarbon utilizers. The isolates were also confirmed as biosurfactant producers and possessed the alkB1 and nahAc genes for degradation of aliphatics and aromatics. E. cloacae-K11, K. pneumoniae-K05, E. cloacae-K12 and their consortium were able to degrade the total petroleum hydrocarbons and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in batch systems by 59.37% – 96.06% and 68.40% – 92.46% respectively. K. pneumoniae-K05 showed the greatest petroleum degradation capacity of the three isolates but hydrocarbon degradation was most efficient with the bacterial consortium. The results obtained showed no significant differences at p≤0.05 between the degradation capacities of K. pneumoniae-K05 and the consortium for PAHs but a significant difference (p≤0.05) was seen with TPH degradation. A viable hydrocarbon degrading bacterial consortium was developed at the end of the study and it was concluded that the polluted river water displayed inherent potential for effective natural attenuation.