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Assignment of distinctive volatiles, descriptive sensory analysis and consumer preference of differently ripened and post-harvest handled pineapple (Ananas comosus [L.] Merr.) fruits

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Abstract

Volatiles of differently ripened fresh pineapples were investigated by a non-targeted profiling analysis comparing fruits harvested at full maturity exported by rapid air freight to pineapples harvested at an earlier green-ripe stage. The latter fruits were exported by sea freight and analysed upon arrival at their destination and after post-harvest flavour genesis. Volatiles were analysed by headspace solid-phase microextraction, gas chromatography–mass spectrometry and multivariate statistical data analysis. Clear-cut differences in the volatile profiles were found. Fully ripe air-freighted pineapples were characterised by elevated concentrations of two 1,3,5,8-undecatetraene isomers, methyl 3-methylbutanoate and 4-methoxy-2,5-dimethyl-3(2H)-furanone, which have been reported as potent contributors to the pineapple flavour. Compared to fully ripened fruits, development of volatiles of sea-freighted pineapples upon arrival in Europe was rudimentary. Post-harvest storage of sea-freighted pineapples resulted in a different volatile profile due to the genesis of hydroxylated and acetoxylated methyl esters and hexanal. Subsequent descriptive sensory analysis was performed by trained panellists comparing retronasal odour and taste profiles. Fully ripe fruits were characterised by a pineapple-like note, fruity flavours and a sweet taste. In contrast, most of these attributes were rated at lower intensities when premature green-ripe fruits were tested. At the end of the post-harvest period, sea-freighted pineapples were characterised by fruity notes accompanied by a musty/corky- and cardboard-like off-flavour. Odour, taste and overall preference were significantly higher rated for air-freighted pineapples as revealed by an untrained consumer panel.

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Abbreviations

dah:

Days after harvest

DS:

Diastereomers

FR:

Fully ripe air-freighted pineapple

FW:

Fresh weight

LRI:

Linear retention index

LV:

Latent variable

PLS-DA:

Partial least squares discriminant analysis

GR:

Green-ripe sea-freighted pineapple

TA:

Titratable acidity

TSS:

Total soluble solids

VID:

Variable identification (coefficient)

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Acknowledgments

One of the authors (C.B.S.) gratefully acknowledges funding of the present research by the Landesgraduiertenförderung Baden-Württemberg. We thank Frank Oberschilp (Peelco, Accra, Ghana) and Fritz Schumacher (Schumacher, Filderstadt-Bernhausen, Germany) for kindly supplying the pineapple samples and organising the export trials. Furthermore, the authors wish to thank the members of the sensory panels at Fraunhofer-Institute and University of Hohenheim.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Compliance with Ethics Requirements

This article does not contain any studies with human or animal subjects.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Food Science and Biotechnology, Chair Plant Foodstuff Technology and Analysis, University of Hohenheim, Garbenstrasse 25, 70599, Stuttgart, Germany

    Christof B. Steingass, Carolin Dell, Veronika Lieb & Reinhold Carle

  2. Fraunhofer-Institute for Process Engineering and Packaging, Giggenhauser Stasse 35, 85354, Freising, Germany

    Bastian Mayer-Ullmann & Michael Czerny

  3. Institute of Food Science and Biotechnology, Food Sensory Science, University of Hohenheim, Garbenstrasse 25, 70599, Stuttgart, Germany

    Michael Czerny

  4. Biological Science Department, Faculty of Science, King Abdulaziz University, P. O. Box 80257, Jeddah, 21589, Saudi Arabia

    Reinhold Carle

Authors
  1. Christof B. Steingass
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  2. Carolin Dell
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  3. Veronika Lieb
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  4. Bastian Mayer-Ullmann
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  5. Michael Czerny
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  6. Reinhold Carle
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Correspondence to Christof B. Steingass.

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Steingass, C.B., Dell, C., Lieb, V. et al. Assignment of distinctive volatiles, descriptive sensory analysis and consumer preference of differently ripened and post-harvest handled pineapple (Ananas comosus [L.] Merr.) fruits. Eur Food Res Technol 242, 33–43 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00217-015-2515-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00217-015-2515-x

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