Persistence of a biocontrol Pseudomonas inoculant as high populations of culturable and non-culturable cells in 200-cm-deep soil profiles

► Pseudomonas inoculant CHA0 found at up to 105 CFU g−1 soil at 2 m depth in field. ► Survival high spots are rhizosphere, earthworm burrows, and soil above plow pan. ► 1012 cells of strain CHA0 evidenced for 1013 applied 72 days earlier. ► CHA0 cells are in culturable, viable but not culturable (VBNC), or dormant state. ► VBNC cells occur in all soil microbial habitats especially in soil above plow plan.