The invention relates to methods and compositions for modifying a characteristic of a plant without modifying the plant's genome using one or more cells comprising one or more phytohormone genes and at least one polynucleotide of interest, which one or more phytohormone genes and the at least one polynucleotide of interest are expressed in the one or more cells.

The present invention provides for a plant-growth-promoting rhizobacterium (PGPR) genetically modified such that the PGPR is capable of colonizing the root of a plurality of plant species, such as a plurality of crop plant species, wherein the genetically modified PGPR is enhanced in the capability to colonize the root of a plurality of plant species when compared to a wild-type or unmodified PGPR.