Dynamic Headspace Gas Chromatography—Mass Spectrometry Analysis of Volatile Flavor Compounds from Wild Diploid Blueberry Species

Variation in flavor components of seven putative diploid progenitor species ( Vaccinium boreale, V. corymbosum, V. darrowi, V. elliottii, V. myrtilloides, V. pallidum, and V. tenellum ) of the North American domesticated blueberry (highbush, rabbiteye and lowbush) were examined. Samples from one to four populations per species were analyzed. Volatile flavor compounds in the juice headspace of blueberries from each plant were analyzed by dynamic headspace gas chromatography-mass spectrometry DH-GC-MS. More than 30 volatile compounds were identified and quantified. Analysis of variance was employed to determine significance of species effects. Multivariate analysis was applied to flavor profiles, titratable acidity, soluble solids. The seven wild blueberry species were differentiated by principal component analysis into six groupings which correlate with taxonomic groupings based on allozyme data.