Discloses a method for enhancing a characteristic of a plant, the method comprising administering a composition comprising Bacillus subtilis FB17 to a seed to produce an enhanced characteristic in the plant grown from the seed, wherein the enhanced characteristic is a decreased lignin content or increased iron concentration. Further discloses a method of coating a plant seed with Bacillus subtilis FB17, the plant seed coating with Bacillus subtilis FB17 and the plant seed comprising a coating of Bacillus subtilis.