Development of the RHIZOtest is the culmination of 25 years of basic and applied research undertaken by INRA and CIRAD.

The RHIZOtest designed in the 1990s in Philippe Hinsinger’s group (INRA), was initially developed for basic research purposes to study the physico-chemical processes induced by roots in the rhizosphere and their impact on the phytoavailability of trace elements.

Since the beginning of the 2000s, that research has opened up the way for using the RHIZOtest to assess the risks of trace element phytoavailability in contaminated soils. Given its characteristics, the RHIZOtest can be used for routine assessment of large sets of soil or plant samples.

Development of the RHIZOtest is still continuing through several research projects on both the basic and applied aspects.