The seeds of rape (Brassica napus L. subsp. napus) and fescue (Festuca ovinia L.) were surface-sterilized with a solution of 1.5% (v/v) sodium hypochlorite for 10 min and washed thoroughly with sterile water. Sterile seeds of fescue and rape were sown in plastic tubes filled with approximately 100 g (dry weight) of autoclaved soil originated from a zinc smelter area (Table 1). In this study there were used three inoculation methods: Method 1 the germination of seeds for a 48 h on plates with bacteria suspension (bacteria pellet, suspended in sterile water), Method 2 the seed inoculation with bacterial suspension just after seeding, Method 3 inoculation of plants after two weeks of growth. The same amount of bacteria was used for the three inoculation methods. Plants (fescue and rape; 5 units/tube; six repetitions) were inoculated with 48 h suspension of selected bacteria isolates in the amount of 1 ml (density 2 × 106 CFU g−1) per 100 g of soil. Then bacterial suspension (sole isolates) was used for seed inoculation while the uninoculated control treatment received water treatment. A plant growth experiment was conducted in a growth chamber for rape 8 weeks and for fescue 12 weeks. The plants were grown under artificial light (350 mol m−2 s−1). The temperature was set to 20 ◦C and 14 ◦C by night, with the relative humidity was maintained at 70%. During the growing season, fertiliser was not applied, and irrigation with deionised water was applied as needed. After growth period plants were harvested. The roots were gently separated from the soil and rinsed under running water and air dried. Stems and roots of the plants were weighed for biomass determination and length of the plants was also measured.