Character impact odorants of the apple cultivars Elstar and Cox Orange

Extracts obtained from Elstar and Cox-Orange apples (Malus var. domestica Borkh.) were screened for potent odorants by aroma extract dilution analysis (AEDA). (E)-beta-Damascenone (I), (E)-beta-damascone (II), hexanal (III), (Z)-3-hexenal (IV), (Z)-2-nonenal (V), linalool (VI), butyl acetate (VII), 2-methylbutyl acetate (VIII) and hexyl acetate (IX) were identified in Elstar and I, III-V, ethyl butanoate (X), ethyl 2-methylbutanoate (XI), 1-octen-3-one (XII), (E)-2-octenal (XIII), methional (XIV), (E)-2-nonenal (XV), eugenol (XVI) and wine lactone (XVII) in Cox Orange. The release of odorants by the cultivars was analysed by gas chromatography-olfactometry of headspace samples. Esters X and XI showed the highest odour activities in the air above Elstar apples and ester X, acetaldehyde (XVIII), 2-methylbutanol (XIX) and ethyl methylpropanoate (XX) in that of Cox Orange. Preparation of a homogenate changed the headspace composition of potent odorants. Hexyl acetate (IX) became the key odorant of Elstar and aldehydes III and IV those of Cox Orange. Quantification and calculation of odour activity values indicated I, IV, V, VII, VIII and IX as the character impact odorants of the fruit flesh of the two cultivars. Elstar contained more I, V, VII and IX and Cox Orange more IV than the other cultivar. The concentrations of VIII were similar.