HS-SPME GC/MS Volatile profile of the Onion Allium fistulosum L. variety Pereirana, cultivated in Colombia

Abstract

The study presents a characterization of the volatile organic compounds found in both raw and the essential oil of the “Pereirana Onion,” an endemic Colombian Welsh onion variety for which the composition has not been previously reported. The analysis was conducted using four distinct fibers through the HS-SPME/GC-MS method. The results revealed that chopped Pereirana onions release as many as 29 different compounds, with concentrations up to 20 times higher than those observed in other evaluated onion species (Biónica, Veleña, and Veleña Sonsón). Most of these compounds are sulfur-based, including dipropyl disulfide, (E)-1-(Prop-1-en-1-yl)-2-propyldisulfane, disulfide, methyl 1-(methylthio) propyl, dipropyl trisulphide, and (E)-1-(Prop-1-en-1-yl)-3-propyltrisulfane. Furthermore, steam extraction of essential oils from Pereirana onions led to the identification of up to 70 different compounds. Simple correspondence analysis (SCA) revealed that Veleña and Veleña Sonsón onion species share common compounds but significantly differ from Biónica and Pereirana varieties cultivated in Risaralda, Colombia. These findings suggest potential applications in the pharmaceutical, agricultural, and food industries, paving the way for future research and industrial utilization.