Abstract
A climacteric aromatic near-isogenic line (NIL) of melon (Cucumis melo L.) SC3-5-1 contained an introgression of the non-climacteric Korean cultivar “Shongwan Charmi” accession PI 161375 (SC) in the genetic background of the non-climacteric cultivar “Piel de Sapo” (PS). The aroma production was monitored during ripening at 21 °C in intact fruit using headspace sorptive bar extraction (HSSE). Bars were composed of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) and aromas were desorbed and analyzed by gas-chromatography mass-spectrometry. The aromatic profile was composed of 70 aromatic compounds plus 21 alkanes with a predominance of esters, particularly acetate (2-methylbutyl acetate, 2-methylpropyl acetate, hexyl acetate, and phenylmethyl acetate). Some compounds were severely affected by postharvest time. The acetate esters (3-methylbutyl acetate, butan-2-yl acetate and phenylmethyl acetate) decreased with ripening and sulfur-derived compounds (S-methyl butanethioate and S-methyl 3-methylbutanethioate) increased gradually with ripening. A few compounds increased at the senescence phase (propyl ethanoate). Other compounds such as hexadecanoic acid showed a marked decrease after harvest, some decreasing from a relative maximum at harvest (2-methylpropyl hexanoate; n-hexanoic acid; nonanoic acid).
Highlights
Climacteric or non-climacteric behavior is an interesting topic in fruits ripening with potential implications for insect attraction, seed dispersal and readiness for predation, or human consumption [1]
In intact fruit of SC3-5-1 harvested close to climacteric peak, Fernández-Trujillo et al [13] showed an increase of total acetate esters, and a sudden decrease in alcohols, accompanied by an upsurge in non-acetate esters and maximum ethylene production lasting around 3 days
Fruits obtained from melon (Cucumis melo L.) plants of the near-isogenic line (NIL) SC3-5-1 were harvested in full-ripe stage of maturity in mid July 2009 in Cartagena, Murcia, SE Spain
Summary
Climacteric or non-climacteric behavior is an interesting topic in fruits ripening with potential implications for insect attraction, seed dispersal and readiness for predation, or human consumption [1]. The climacteric behavior of this NIL is strongly associated with a typical aromatic profile [3] and softening associated with cell wall degradation and accelerated ripening compared with the non-climacteric inbred “Piel de Sapo” parental [10,11,12]. In intact fruit of SC3-5-1 harvested close to climacteric peak, Fernández-Trujillo et al [13] showed an increase of total acetate esters, and a sudden decrease in alcohols, accompanied by an upsurge in non-acetate esters and maximum ethylene production lasting around 3 days. The main individual aroma volatiles of NIL SC3-5-1 fruit during ripening have not been reported. The goal of this paper is to characterize the main individual changes in volatiles associated with SC3-5-1 climacteric fruit ripening and senescence, those revealing potential ethylene-dependent behavior in intact fruit after harvest
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