Distribution of the volatile compounds in the different parts of a white-fleshed peach (Prunus persica L. Batsch)

The quantitative distribution of volatile compounds in the skin, top mesocarp, middle mesocarp, bottom mesocarp, inner mesocarp, and outer mesocarp of a white-fleshed peach (cv. Maura) was investigated. Volatile compounds were extracted by liquid–liquid microextraction (LLME) and analyzed by GC–FID and GC–MS. The results showed that the levels of volatiles in skin were significantly higher than those observed in the other parts of the fruit, whereas top and bottom mesocarp were mainly discriminated by opposite concentrations in unsaturated lactones and C6-compounds. Distribution of lactones was also found to be different in skin and pulp according to their carbon chain length. Finally, the highest concentrations of benzaldehyde were found to be mainly located close to the stone suggesting that in peach this compound could be derived from enzymatic hydrolysis of amygdalin.