Changes in quality parameters and volatile aroma compounds in 'fairtime' peach during fruit development and ripening

Volatile profiles of Sicilian prickly pear (Opuntia ficus indica) by SPME-GC/MS analysis

The aroma compounds present in the headspace of homogenized slurries of fresh prickly pears (Opuntia ficus-indica) from Sicilian cultivars were determined. Solid Phase Microextraction (SPME) followed by Gas-chromatography/Mass Spectrometry (GC/MS) analysis was used to characterize the volatile compounds. The volatile flavour profiles of the three cultivars investigated (red, white and yellow) showed significant differences. The aromatic profile of peeled prickly pears stored for one day was different from the one of the fresh samples, mainly due to the occurrence of some oxidative and hydrolytic reactions