Many plant secondary metabolites induce aerobic polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) degradation by bacterial populations in pure culture.  The objective of this study was to investigate whether potential inducers (biphenyl and plant secondary metabolites such as carvone, isoprene, limonene, naringin, and coumarin) and surfactant (hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin [HP-β-CD]) increased PCB removal or affected microbial populations in soils with 6% of organic matter (Woolper) and 67% of organic matter (Pahokee) contents. Between 6% and 52% of PCB was removed from soils without any amendments, depending on the position and number of chlorines in the biphenyl structure. Biphenyl, but not plant secondary metabolites or HP-β-CD, enhanced di- and tri-chlorinated PCB removal in both soils. HP-β-CD decreased PCB removal when used in combination with biphenyl. Two-way ANOVA indicated that HP-β-CD significantly increased tetra- and penta- chlorinated congener removal in Pahokee soil, but not in Woolper soil. There was no significant correlation between PCB removal and bacterial colony forming units using either R2A medium or mineral salts medium with biphenyl as sole carbon source (MSMB). Principal components analysis of phospholipid fatty acid biomarkers indicated that HP-β-CD increased Gram-negative bacteria and decreased Gram-positive bacteria. Inducers had no detectable effect on soil microbial populations. There was no significant correlation between PCB removal and individual PLFAs. The different effects of these plant secondary metabolites on PCB removal between pure culture and soil may due to differences in bioavailability and variable response of microbes to these compounds. PCB removal capacity of soil microbes cannot be predicted with PLFA biomarkers or colony forming units using R2A or MSMB plates.