Bacteria exhibiting 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC) deaminase activity, which inhibits the biosynthesis of ethylene in higher plants, promote plant growth through the degradation of ethylene precursors, such as ACC. ACC deaminase activity in Bradyrhizobium sp. SUTN9-2 was enhanced by genetic engineering and adaptive laboratory evolution (ALE)-based methods. The transferal of a plasmid containing the acdR and acdS genes into SUTN9-2 was genetic engineering improved, while the ALE method was performed based on the accumulation of an adaptive bacterial population that continuously grew under specified growth conditions for a long time. ACC deaminase enzyme activity was 8.9–fold higher in SUTN9-2:pMG103::acdRS and 1.4–fold higher in SUTN9-2 (ACCDadap) than in the wild-type strain. The effects of increased activity were examined in the host plant (Vigna radiata (L.) R.Wilczek SUT1). The improved strains enhanced nodulation in early stage of plant growth. SUTN9-2:pMG103::acdRS also maintained nitrogen fixation under water deficit conditions and increased the plant biomass after rehydration. Changes in nucleotides and amino acids in the AcdS protein of SUTN9-2 (ACCDadap) were then investigated. Some nucleotides predicted to be located in the ACC-binding site were mutated. These mutations may have increased ACC deaminase activity, which enhanced both symbiotic interactions and drought tolerance and promoted recovery after rehydration more than lower ACC deaminase activity. Adaptive evolution represents a promising strategy for further applications in the field. © 2020, Japanese Society of Microbial Ecology. All rights reserved.