Rapid SPME-GC Analysis of Volatile Secondary Metabolites in Various Wild Species of the Genus Allium

SUMMARY

The individual volatile sulphur components formed in the presence of alliinase were analyzed in nine different Allium wild genotypes by SPME-GC and SPME-GC-MS, respectively. Relating to the individual profiles, two chemotypes can be discriminated which correspond more or less to a “garlic type” and an “onion type.” Since the described method is very rapid and reproducible and needs only small sample amounts, it can be efficiently used to evaluate large Allium gene bank accessions with special regard to valuable flavour and healthful properties.

KEYWORDS:

• Allium
• SPME-GC
• alk(en)yl cysteine sulphoxides
• dialk(en)yl (poly)sulphides
• gene bank evaluation