Salt-induced flavor metamorphosis in plums: A GC-IMS comparative study unraveling cultivar-dependent aroma evolution
This study investigated flavor evolution in four plum varieties, namely ‘Tuogu’ plum (TG), ‘Bingtang’ plum (BT), ‘Qilin’ plum (QL) and ‘Pingguo’ plum (PG) during salting using gas chromatography-ion mobility spectrometry (GC-IMS). We identified 57 volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in fresh/salted fruits, with eight key VOCs (heptanal, propanal, 3-methylbutanal, etc.) contributing apple, grassy, and fruity notes through ROAV analysis. Fresh TG exhibited dominant grassy/fruity flavors from heptanal and hexanal, while BT/QL/PG showed stronger apple notes from 3-methylbutyraldehyde. Salting reduced aldehydes but increased esters/alkenes/alcohols, with eight VOCs showing significant changes. Notably, S-TG preserved original aromas, whereas S-PG underwent flavor remodeling. Metabolic pathway modulation drove the transition from fresh grassy to complex salted-fruity profiles, providing critical insights for plum processing optimization.
期刊介绍:
Food Chemistry: X, one of three Open Access companion journals to Food Chemistry, follows the same aims, scope, and peer-review process. It focuses on papers advancing food and biochemistry or analytical methods, prioritizing research novelty. Manuscript evaluation considers novelty, scientific rigor, field advancement, and reader interest. Excluded are studies on food molecular sciences or disease cure/prevention. Topics include food component chemistry, bioactives, processing effects, additives, contaminants, and analytical methods. The journal welcome Analytical Papers addressing food microbiology, sensory aspects, and more, emphasizing new methods with robust validation and applicability to diverse foods or regions.