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Updated: Aug 10, 2026

Fruit Volatile Analysis Using an Electronic Nose
Published on: March 30, 2012
Formation of volatile branched chain esters in bananas (Musa sapientum L.)
1Centre for Biostructural and Biomolecular Research, University of Western Sydney, Hawkesbury, Richmond, New South Wales, Australia. g.wyllie@uws.edu.au
Abstract:
Substrates controlling the formation of branched chain volatile esters in ripening bananas were investigated by the application of alcohol and amino acid precursors to whole fruit and tissue samples. The resulting changes in the profile of the volatile esters were determined using SPME and GC. These changes revealed the selectivity characteristics of the esterification enzyme AAT, the availability of acyl CoA's for ester formation, and the role of substrate supply on volatile production. The results obtained suggest that substrate supply is a major determinant of the quantitative and qualitative composition of the resulting aroma profile.
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