Comparison of tomatillo and tomato volatile compounds in the headspace by selected ion flow tube mass spectrometry (SIFT-MS)

J Food Sci. 2010 Apr;75(3):C268-73. doi: 10.1111/j.1750-3841.2010.01537.x.

Abstract

The concentration of 31 volatiles were measured in the headspace of tomatillos using selected ion flow tube-mass spectrometry (SIFT-MS), and were compared with those in vine-ripened tomato, roma tomato, cherry tomato, and grape tomato. None of the volatiles were higher in the headspace of tomatillos than of tomatoes. Compounds (E)-2-octenal, (E)-2-pentenal, 2-isobutylthiazole, 6-methyl-5-hepten-2-one, and phenylacetaldehyde were significantly lower in tomatillo than in the tomato varieties in the headspace. After blending, volatiles in the headspace increased, and then decreased after reaching a maximum concentration, due to further degradation or depletion. Compounds (E)-2-pentenal and 1-penten-3-one reached a maximum concentration later than (E)-2-hexenal, (Z)-3-hexenal, and hexanal for tomatillo and tomatoes. The slope of the ratio of (E)-2-hexenal and (Z)-3-hexenal was not significantly different for any of the samples, implying that the activity of cis/trans isomerase was not different between tomatillos and tomatoes.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Aldehydes / analysis
  • Aldehydes / chemistry
  • Food Analysis / methods
  • Food Handling
  • Fruit / chemistry*
  • Fruit / metabolism
  • Lipid Metabolism
  • Mass Spectrometry / methods*
  • Molecular Structure
  • Pentanones / analysis
  • Pentanones / chemistry
  • Physalis / chemistry*
  • Solanum lycopersicum / chemistry*
  • Species Specificity
  • Stereoisomerism
  • Time Factors
  • Volatile Organic Compounds / analysis*
  • Volatile Organic Compounds / chemistry*

Substances

  • Aldehydes
  • Pentanones
  • Volatile Organic Compounds
  • 2-hexenal
  • 2-pentenal
  • n-hexanal
  • 1-pentene-3-one