Qualitative and Difference Analysis of Sweet Cherry Fruit Volatile Organic Compounds under Different Cultivation Patterns Based on Gas Chromatography Ion Mobility Spectrometry

Abstract

Gas chromatography ion mobility spectrometry (GC-IMS) was used to detect the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) of Zheng5–5 sweet cherry fruits cultivar under three cultivation patterns [arched cover (PN), umbrella cover (SX), and open field (LD)]. VOCs were analyzed and compared using three-dimensional and two-dimensional top view visualization, fingerprint analysis, and principal component analysis (PCA). A total of 24 VOCs (including monomers and dimers) were detected in PN, SX, and LD, and 19 of them were finally identified, mainly alcohols, aldehydes, acids, esters, and ketones. The VOCs of PN, SX, and LD were similar but significantly different in content. The three compounds with the highest relative content were 2-hexen-1-olD, ethanol, and hexanalD, with ranges of 13.71% (LD) to 22.31% (PN), 13.02% (SX) to 21.27% (LD), and 8.22% (LD) to 16.66% (PN), respectively. Esters are the main components that form the sweet cherry fruit aroma, with a relative content of LD>PN>SX. According to the PCA, fruit samples of PN, SX, and LD can be clearly distinguished, indicating significant differences in VOCs under different cultivation modes. The GC-IMS visual plots of PN, SX, and LD agreed with the PCA results, and their combination was suitable for characterizing the VOCs of sweet cherry fruits under different cultivation patterns. This study can provide a reference for evaluating the flavor characteristics of sweet cherry fruits with different cultivation patterns.