Comparison of two methods used to analyse lipid peroxidation from Vaccinium myrtillus (L.) during snow removal, reacclimation and cold acclimation

Malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration is a widely used method to analyse lipi d peroxidation in biological material. In plant tissues, however, certain c ompounds (anthocyanins, carbohydrates) may interfere with measurements whic h may lead to an overestimation of the MDA levels. Two methods were compare d for analysing lipid peroxidation, either uncorrected or corrected for int erfering compounds. The comparison was performed in three separate experime nts with respect to cold treatments (snow removal in winter, reacclimation in summer and cold acclimation in autumn) in bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus L.). During winter and autumn the methods seem to measure different compoun ds, but during active growth in the summer the difference between the metho ds was less. This is obviously due to carbohydrates which act as cryoprotec tants and increase in concentration during cold acclimation as well as due to the anthocyanins. It is thus suggested that the validity of the uncorrec ted method to measure MDA and thereby lipid peroxidation is best in plant t issue which is in an active growth state.