Malondialdehyde Assays in Higher Plants

Malondialdehyde is a three-carbon dialdehyde produced as a byproduct of polyunsaturated fatty acid peroxidation widely used as a marker of the extent of lipid peroxidation in plants. There are several methodological approaches to quantify malondialdehyde contents in higher plants, ranging from the simplest, cheapest, and quickest spectrophotometric approaches to the more complex ones using tandem mass spectrometry. This chapter summarizes the advantages and limitations of approaches followed and provides brief protocols with some tips to facilitate the selection of the best method for each experimental condition and application.