Substrate composition affects the development of water stress and subsequent recovery by inducing physiological changes in Cistus albidus plants

Organic residues (compost) can be used as growth medium but may contain phytotoxic ions that, combined with a water deficit alter the behavior of plants. The experiment was carried out in chamber Cistus albidus commercial substrate, C (sphagnum peat, coconut fiber and perlite, 8:7:1) mixture compost substrates, Cp (slurry compost, 3:6:1). Plants were grown pots under well-watered, maintaining values ?l around ?0.9 MPa (WW) water-stressed (WS) conditions, where irrigation removed until reached ?3.0 (water stress period), after then, re-established all plants (recovery period). Although, well-watered had leaf potential (?l) MPa, stomatal conductance (gs) 125 mmol m?2s?1 substrate 30 m?2s-1 compost. time taken to reach threshold value at which occurs 13 days 53 Water-stressed significantly lower gs than well-watered. maintained similar both treatments (WW WS) accumulated less biomass those that commercial. led an increase adaxial epidermis, parenchyma mesophyll, whereas proportions different tissues decreased. Higher lipid peroxidation found substrates stress. recovery plants, manage depended on type substrate. restoration act new stress, reflected photochemical mechanisms.