Tracing the production area of citrus fruits using aroma-active compounds and their quality evaluation modles.

Abstract

BACKGROUND\nThe aroma is one of the most important fruit quality factor and can objectively reflect the characteristic of different fruits. Employing the aroma-active compound to trace the production area of two citrus cultivars (Eureka lemon and Huapi kumquat) and develop an approach to evaluate their aroma quality are of great significance.\n\n\nRESULTS\nHuapi kumquat peel showed higher content of monoterpene and sesquiterpene compounds, while Eureka lemon peel exhibited higher content of monoterpene and monoterpene aldehyde compounds. Eureka lemon peel (Wanzhou cultivar) had a higher content of nerol acetate and geraniol acetate compounds. Kumquat peel (Suichuan and Rong cultivars) was a higher content of sesquiterpenes. In addition, 30 and 31 quantified compounds observed as aroma-active compounds in kumquat and lemon according to odor activity value, respectively. Principal component analysis (PCA) and hierarchical clustering analysis (HCA) results indicated a useful classification for production areas based on aroma-active compounds. The selected aroma-active compounds have been checked as aroma quality parameters, which associated with multivariate analysis to establish a model of aroma quality evaluation. Higher aroma quality value of kumquat and lemon were collected from Rong an and Wanzhou, respectively.\n\n\nCONCLUSION\nThe aroma-active compounds can be used to discriminate production areas by multivariate statistics. An objective method was established to evaluate the aroma quality of citrus fruits. Huapi kumquat and Eureka lemon with highest aroma quality was harvested from Rong an and Wanzhou production areas. It was the first time to evaluate the aroma quality of citrus fruits objectively by using multivariate analysis. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.