Tracing the evolutionary routes of plant-microbiota interactions

The microbiota thriving at the root-soil interface plays a crucial role in supporting plant growth, development and health. The interactions between plant and soil microbes can be traced back to the initial plant's colonisation of dry lands. Understanding the evolutionary drivers of these interactions will be key to re-wire them for the benefit of mankind. Here we critically assess recent insights into the evolutionary history of plant–microbiota interactions in natural and agricultural ecosystems. We identify distinctive features, as well as commonalities, of these two distinct scenarios and areas requiring further research efforts. Finally, we propose strategies that combining advances in molecular microbiology and crop genomics will be key towards a predictable manipulation of plant–microbiota interactions for sustainable crop production.