Bacterial community associated with Suaeda salsa (L.) rhizosphere in petroleum-contaminated saline-alkali soil was investigated by 16S rRNA gene clone library analysis. Halotolerant petroleum-degrading bacteria were further isolated by enrichment using petroleum as the sole source of carbon and energy. Marinobacter, Alcanivorax and Pseudomonas dominated Suaeda salsa (L.) rhizosphere in petroleum-contaminated saline-alkali soil as revealed by 16S rRNA gene clone library analysis, which were likely to have a role in the phytoremediation of such soil by Suaeda salsa (L.). Eight halotolerant petroleum-degrading bacterial strains were isolated, which could grow up to 6%?10% NaCl, and could degrade 32.3% ?57.0% petroleum hydrocarbon in 3% NaCl over a period of 14 days. They were identified to belong to the genus of Gordonia, Achromobacter, Dietzia, Bacillus and Pseudomonas by 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis. They may involve in the degradation of petroleum in the phytoremediation of such soil by Suaeda salsa (L.).