Seasonal Variation of Volatile Composition and Odor Activity Value of'Marion'(Rubus spp. hyb) and'Thornless Evergreen'(R. laciniatus L.) Blackberries

ABSTRACT: Volatile compositions of'Marion'and'Thornless Evergreen'blackberries from 3 growing seasons were analyzed using gas chromatography-flame ionization detection (GC-FID) and GC-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Although seasonal variations were present for both cultivars, it was generally observed that the most abundant volatiles in'Marion'blackberry were acetic, 2/3-methylbutanoic, hexanoic and decanoic acids, ethanol, and linalool, whereas the most abundant volatiles in'Thornless Evergreen'were 2-heptanol, hexanol, octanol, α-pinene, nopol, and p-cymenol. Compared with'Marion,'Thornless Evergreen'contained significantly more total volatiles, especially in alcohols, terpenoids, and phenols, whereas'Marion'contained more organic acids. Odor activity values (OAVs) were determined to identify each cultivar's most potent odorants. The compounds with the high odor activity values (OAV > 10) in'Marion'were ethyl hexanoate, β-ionone, linalool, 2-heptanone, 2-undecanone, α-ionone, and hexanal. The compounds with the high odor activity values (OAV > 10) in'Thornless Evergreen'were ethyl hexanoate, 2-heptanone, ethyl 2-methylbutanoate, 2-heptanol, 3-methylbutanal, α-pinene, limonene, p- cymene, linalool, t -2-hexenal, myrtenol, hexanal, 2-methylbutanal, and sabinene.