Soil salinity threatens global crop productivity by disrupting plant growth and development, and its severity is increasing under climate change. Na⁺/H⁺ antiporters (NHXs) are central to maintaining osmotic balance and ion homeostasis under salt stress, regulating cytosolic Sodium (Na⁺), Potassium (K⁺), and Hydrogen (H⁺). This review provides an in-depth synthesis of recent advances in understanding NHX gene families across diverse plant species, highlighting Na⁺/K⁺ selectivity, transport mechanisms, regulatory pathways, and conserved structure-function and evolutionary features. We outline the potential for improving salinity tolerance through advanced genetic methodologies, including genome engineering and marker-assisted breeding, and examine the interactions between NHX proteins, abscisic acid signaling, and beneficial microorganisms. We also note emerging adjunct approaches using organic and nanomaterials to modulate NHX activity. Together, these insights offer an integrated perspective on NHX-mediated pathways and regulation, and delineate practical avenues for deploying NHX-informed strategies to develop salt-tolerant crops and advance sustainable agriculture in the context of climate change.

Stressful saline concentrations in soils affect photosynthesis by damaging pigments, photosystems, components of electron transport system, and enzymes involved in the process. Plants respond through very complex stress adaptation mechanisms including proteome modulation, alterations in pigment content, cell osmotic adjustment and control of ion and water homeostasis mechanisms, which stabilize cytosolic glutathione redox potential, etc. The level of plant sensitivity depends on salt toxicity levels, growth stage, physiological and genetic factors. With aim the investigation of the salinity tolerant cultivars, and for the elucidation of mechanisms underlying this complex biological process, here we analyze the impact of four NaCl concentrations (0-50-100-200mM) in growth parameters (root, shoot and leaves length), pigment content (chla, chlb, carotenoids), and GSH content, during seedling of five bread wheat ( Triticum aestivum L.) cultivars in modified Hoagland solutions. Based on biometric parameters, pigment synthesis and GSH content cultivar Nogal is salt-sensitive (growth and pigments reduced); cultivar Viktoria is medium-tolerant (growth partially impaired, pigments constant), cultivar Toborzo and cultivar Suba are medium-tolerant (growth partially impaired, pigments increased), cultivar Dajti salt-tolerant (growth partially impaired/ leaves developed, pigments increased). Quantity of GSH in response to different levels of salinity is cultivar specific, and time of exposure to salinity is in negative correlation to GSH content for all investigated cultivars.

Abiotic stress, particularly heat and drought, significantly impacts plant reproductive development, threatening crop productivity and food security. Understanding stress tolerance mechanisms requires a multi‐level approach that integrates physiological, biochemical, and molecular traits in different experimental settings. This review explores key methodologies for assessing resilience to single and combined abiotic stress in reproductive tissues, from growth chamber experiments to greenhouse and field trials. Essential physiological and biochemical traits indicative of stress responses are highlighted alongside molecular pathways that provide deeper insights into adaptation to drought and heat stress. The use of multi‐omics techniques, including transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics, as powerful tools for identifying novel stress‐associated traits is discussed, with an emphasis on the integration of these techniques into a holistic framework, which also incorporates single‐cell approaches. Finally, we address the limitations of the current methodologies and propose future research directions to improve stress resilience assessment in plant reproductive development.

Wheat is considered as staple food source for 40% of the population worldwide. Yet, the yield and quality can be compromised by fungal diseases, which are also responsible for mycotoxins presence at wheat seeds and originating foodstuff. In this context, the tackling of this problem by developing regulatory limits and standards have induced the development of various methods for sampling, extraction, identification and quantification of mycotoxins in food samples. This review addresses the comparison of the technical and cost efficiency of methods for the extraction and qualitative- quantitative analysis of mycotoxins from whole wheat flour. Methods of extraction such as the Solvent Extraction method, the Liquid Liquid Extraction, the Solid Liquid Extraction, the Solid Phase Extraction, the Immuno-Affinity Columns, the QuEChERS, and the use of absorbent nanomaterials such as graphene oxide and multi-walled carbon nanotubes in extraction procedures, are described in principle, technical details are presented, and examples of reported use are given. Methods of mycotoxin analysis such as Immunological Assays (LFIA, ELISA, FPIA), the Sensor-based (Surface Plasmon Resonance Sensor, Piezoelectric Sensors, Electrochemical Sensors, Colorimetric Sensors), and Chromatographic Techniques (TLC, GC, HPLC, HPLC-FLD, LC-MS/MS, UPLC-MS/MS, UHPLC-MS/MS, UFLC-MS/MS) are reviewed. To compare their efficiency, main advantages and disadvantages, the ongoing improvements, as well as the validation parameters (linearity, recovery range, RSDr range, RSD _R %, LOQ range, and cut off) are summarized, and pairing of extraction to analysis methods for specific mycotoxins is provided. It was evidenced that none of methods already in use is capable of analyzing all mycotoxin categories at once, because of their chemical characteristics (volatile/non-volatile, co-elution, UV absorption, fluorescence) versus methods restrictions (matrix interferences, cross-reactivity of antibodies, selectivity and reproducibility of data, need for derivatization, etc). Also, depending on the purpose of the analysis (research or screening as part of legal requirements), to date the immunological methods are only suitable for validated matrices, biosensors can be used for routine screening, and that GC-MS and HPLC-based methods fulfill the legal requirements. In conclusion, while the selectivity and accuracy of methods for mycotoxin detection is being improved rapidly (those sensor-based thanks to the use of nanoparticles, nanomaterials, aptasensors, etc., and the chromatographic techniques coupled with mass spectrometry offer a higher selectivity and sensitivity, low detection limits, maintained resolution performance), and the duration of the analysis, the cost, and the need for highly-skilled staff go in favor of rapid methods (immunological and sensors-based), it is the capacity to fulfill legal requirements, which will determine the trend and their future success in the market.

Water quality is one of the most critical environmental issues in the context of climate change, as are the methodologies applied to evaluate it. In Albania, standardized methods have traditionally been employed for the measurement of physical-chemical indicators, trophic state (ISO 17025), and bacteriological indicators (ISO 16649-3:2015). However, the use of any of these methodologies in isolation does not provide a comprehensive understanding of the condition of fresh, marine, or lagoon ecosystems. The present study discusses an integrated approach to water quality evaluation that combines standardized monitoring protocols with advanced biotechnological research methods. These include CARD-FISH, fluorescence microscopy, and flow cytometry for biomass quantification; factorial analysis of bacterial DNA in relation to environmental parameters; assessment of phytoplankton genetic diversity; and chemotaxonomic analyses. In addition, the application of novel standardized monitoring protocols employing bioreporter bacteria for cytotoxicity testing is presented. The results obtained from the implementation of these methodologies in Albania indicate that an integrated, multidisciplinary approach provides a more comprehensive and reliable framework for the assessment of water quality.

Lake Butrinti, located near Saranda in southern Albania, is a unique brackish lagoon shaped by tectonic activity and characterized by significant ecological, historical, and economic value. Its distinct nature has sparked scientific interest in understanding the factors that influence water quality and the lagoon’s capacity to support diverse life forms. This paper reviews the findings on water quality based on physical parameters, chemical indicators, and biological indicators, including phytoplankton chlorophyll a, the Carlson Trophic State Index, biomass, and cytotoxicity testing using bio-reporting bacteria. The data were organized to depict annual, seasonal, and spatial dynamics more clearly. Furthermore, the methodologies applied to assess phytoplankton diversity, including microscopy, chemotaxonomy, specific PCR, CARD-FISH, and sequencing, are reviewed, with a discussion of their respective advantages and limitations. The findings indicate that anthropogenic activities, including past interventions in the hydrological network, fishing practices, commercial aquaculture, and pollution, together with climate change, have negatively affected the lagoon’s physical, chemical, and biological integrity. More comprehensive and systematic research is needed to monitor change, mitigate adverse effects, and safeguard the ecological integrity and economic sustainability of Lake Butrinti.