An emerging and underestimated threat to crop productivity and food safety stems from the increasing presence of nanoplastics, particularly polystyrene nanoplastics (PSNPs), in agricultural soils, a challenge further intensified by climate change. Although the phytotoxicity of NPs has been examined in several crop species, their impact on Triticum turgidum ssp. durum, a crop of significant nutritional importance and widespread in the semi-arid region, remains largely unexplored. In this study, we assessed the systemic effects of PSNP exposure (10 mg/L) on two durum wheat genotypes, Kronos (wild type) and MRP3 (a low-phytate mutant with altered root traits and micronutrient uptake), following plant development from seedling to grain filling. Through a combined phenotypic, physiological, ionomic, and transcriptomic approach, we identified clear genotype-dependent responses to PSNP-induced stress. Kronos showed a higher tolerance, maintaining nutrient homeostasis and sustaining photosynthetic activity, accompanied by a moderate transcriptional adjustment. In contrast, MRP3 exhibited substantial disruptions in ion balance, alongside intensified oxidative stress and extensive transcriptomic remodeling. Enrichment analyses revealed distinct molecular pathways underpinning each genotype's response, with Kronos activating photosynthesis- and defense-related pathways, while MRP3 triggered responses associated with nutrient deprivation, detoxification, and cell wall biosynthesis. Our findings demonstrate that PSNPs act as a significant abiotic stressor in durum wheat, eliciting genotype-dependent adaptive capacities. The contrasting responses highlight the critical role of transporter-mediated detoxification and nutrient homeostasis in shaping plant resilience to nanoplastic exposure. This study provides the first integrated molecular framework describing PSNP-induced stress responses in durum wheat and underscores the importance of genetic background in determining plant adaptive strategies to emerging environmental contaminants.

Pigmented wheat varieties represent a promising source of bioactive compounds, particularly anthocyanins, with potential applications in the development of functional cereal-based foods. This study investigated the combined effect of pigmented wheat genetics and innovative milling technologies on the nutritional and technological properties of wheat-derived products. Two pigmented bread wheat genotypes, the blue-grained cultivar Purendo and the purple-grained line Vanilnoir, were compared with the non-pigmented cultivar Peralba. Grains were processed using conventional milling or through micronization followed by air-classification to obtain enriched fractions (F250 and G250). The resulting flours and fractions were evaluated for compositional traits, rheological properties, antioxidant activity, and pasta-making performance. Air-classification significantly increased ash, protein, and lipid contents while reducing total starch, confirming the enrichment of outer kernel components. Bran-enriched fractions exhibited enhanced antioxidant capacity, with the highest FRAP and TEAC values observed in pigmented genotypes. Pasta produced from enriched fractions showed improved nutritional profiles and, in most cases, a reduced predicted glycemic index compared with conventional flour-based pasta. Technological responses were genotype-dependent: while bran enrichment negatively affected dough rheology, the purple genotype maintained more balanced technological and sensory properties in pasta compared with the blue genotype. These results demonstrate that integrating pigmented wheat genetics with targeted milling strategies can support the development of functional cereal-based foods with enhanced antioxidant potential and improved nutritional quality.