The present invention relates to a novel species of Enterobacter, Enterobacter sp. 638, and to its use in connection, for example, with a method for increasing growth in a plant, increasing biomass in a plant, increasing fruit and/or seed productivity in a plant, increasing disease tolerance and/or resistance in a plant, and increasing drought tolerance and/or resistance in a plant, as compared to a control or wild-type plant grown under identical conditions without application of the inventive method or composition. The methods include applying an effective amount of a composition, which includes an isolated culture of Enterobacter sp. 638, to the plant.
