Innoculants don't affect the germination of the seed. The bacteria that are in innoculants are symbiotic (for the good of both) bacteria that fix nitrogen for the legumes(plants with nitrogen fixing bacteria). Air has 80% nitrogen but this cannot be used by normal plants. Legumes have developed a relatioship where the bacteria live in nodules (balls) on the roots of the plant. The bacteria get shelter and some carbohydrate food from the plant. In return the bacteria take air nitrogen and convert it into organic nitrogen which the plant can use as a nutrient source. The plants which have these bacteria are able to live in nitrogen poor soils. Legumes actually add organic nitrogen to the soil they live in when they decompose.

Dan O.