Enhanced tolerance and remediation of anthracene by transgenic tobacco plants expressing a fungal glutathione transferase gene

► Transgenic plants expressing a TvGST gene were tested for tolerance, uptake and degradation of anthracene. ► Transgenic plants were more tolerant to anthracene and take up more anthracene from soil and solutions compared to control plants. ► Using in vitro T1 seedlings, we showed that anthracene-a three fused benzene ring compound was phytodegraded to naphthalene derivatives, having two benzene rings. ► This is the first time that a transgenic plant was shown to have the potential to phytodegrade anthracene.