1. Rhizosphere microbiota

The rhizosphere of plants, as defined by Lorenz Hiltner in 1904 (Box 1) is home to a microbiota that has been studied for much longer than the intestinal microbiota, although the latter has received far more attention insofar as it directly affects human health. The term "microbiota" replaces what we used to improperly refer to as "microflora" (Box 2). It is not only relevant but necessary to study the mechanisms by which a plant adapts to its environment, in particular the soil...