Flavour Science: Chapter 83. Fast Gas Chromatography-Surface Acoustic Wave Sensor and Capillary GC-MS for Evaluating Strawberry and Blueberry Maturity

Fast GC-surface acoustic wave, FGC-SAW, analyses were completed in 15 to 20s but with less chromatographic resolution than a 40min GC-MS. For strawberry, 19 peaks were observed with the FGC-SAW and 81 peaks with the GC-MS. For blueberry, 18 FGC-SAW peaks versus 40 GC-MS were observed. Although the resolution of fruit volatiles using FGC-SAW was inferior to GC-MS, the ability to distinguish strawberries and blueberries of different maturity stages was similar. Full ripe and over-ripe strawberries were tightly grouped in PCA score plots with both systems. Two blueberry cultivars from two harvest dates at three maturity stages were clustered into separate PCA quadrants using both FGC-SAW and GC-MS data.