Fusion proteins and methods for stimulating plant growth, protecting plants from pathogens, and immobilizing Bacillus spores on plant roots

A method for stimulating plant growth comprising:

• applying a recombinant Bacillus cereus family member expressing a fusion protein to a plant seed, wherein applying the recombinant Bacillus cereus family member to the plant seed comprises:
• (a) applying the recombinant Bacillus cereus family member to the plant seed at the time of planting;
• or (b) coating the plant seed with a seed coating formulation comprising the recombinant Bacillus cereus family member and an agriculturally acceptable carrier;
• and
• contacting the seed with a plant growth medium;
• wherein the fusion protein comprises at least one plant growth stimulating protein or peptide and a targeting sequence or exosporium protein that targets the fusion protein to the exosporium of the recombinant Bacillus cereus family member, and wherein plants grown from plant seeds to which the recombinant Bacillus cereus family member has been applied exhibit increased growth as compared to plants grown from plant seeds to which the recombinant Bacillus cereus family member has not been applied, under the same conditions.