Aroma Volatile Compound Analysis of SPME Headspace and Extract Samples from Crabapple (Malus sp.) Fruit Using GC-MS

Volatile compounds from the ripened crabapple fruit of six varieties (Red Splendor, Strawberry Parfait, Pink Spire, Radiant, Sparkler, and Flame) were analyzed by the use of the SPME/GC/MS method. The changes in the volatiles between the ripened and upon full maturity fruit states were studied in Red Splendor and Strawberry Parfait. An effort was made to summarize an effective method for searching and identifying new idioplasms containing a particular fruit aroma within Malus. A total of 37 compounds were identified from the sample. The main aroma volatiles of the six varieties of fruit were comprised of 2-hexenal, 3-hexenal, hexanal, 2,4-hexadienal, benzaldehyde, diethyl phthalate. The main volatile compound of the crabapple fruit was 2-hexenal, but the relative content percentages were different (45.37, 21.98, 33.56, 32.21, 38.60, and 45.88%). The aroma components accumulated differently as the fruits ripened. The relative content of aldehydes and esters decreased as alcohols increased after the Red Splendor and Strawberry Parfait fruit ripened. For Red Splendor, the main volatile was still 2-hexenal, but the relative content decreased to 42.89%, and the relative content of alcohols increased by 13.86% as aldehydes and esters declined by 12.16 and 7.18%, respectively. For Strawberry Parfait, the main volatile was changed to cyclohexanol, and the relative content increased to 46.43%, while the relative content of alcohols increased by 49.03% as aldehydes and esters declined by 23.74 and 9.34%, respectively.