PeaT1, a protein elicitor from Alternaria tenuissima can promote plant growth and trigger systemic acquired resistance in plants. In order to expand the application of PeaT1, P43 promoter sequence and nprB signal peptide-encoding sequence were cloned from Bacillus subtilis 168 chromosomal DNA. The two sequences and peaT1 gene were spliced by overlapping extension. This product was cloned into the Escherichia coli-B. subtilis shuttle vector pHY300-PLK and the resultant recombinant expression vector (pHY43N- peaTI) plasmid was transformed into B. subtilis WB800. SDS-PAGE and Western blotting analysis showed that protein elicitor PeaT1 was expressed extracellularly in B. subtilis. This recombinant bacterial strain enhanced drought tolerance and promoted seedling growth in wheat.