Four chromium-resistant bacterial strains (Bacillus pumilus-CrK08, Cellulosimicrobium cellulans- CrK16, Exiguobacterium-CrK19, and Bacillus cereus-CrK20) that could resist up to 25 mg·ml^-1 of Cr (VI) were used to inoculate Zea mays (Lin) seeds grown in tannery effluent-contaminated and normal garden soils. Overall, plants growing in tannery-contaminated soil showed slow leaf growth, 40% reduction in shoot length, 73% reduction in dry biomass, burning of leaf margins, delayed flower bud initiation, and feminization of male flowers compared to control. Zea mays (Lin) plants growing in tannery-contaminated soil showed an increase in acid phosphatase activity (14-26%), soluble proteins content (17-38%), chlorophyll a (34%) and b contents (70%), and a decrease in peroxidase (19%) and carotenoid contents (50%) compared to control. Non-inoculated plants have higher chromium uptake (114 mg/kg) as compared to inoculated (49.4 mg/kg).