Combined analysis of glycosidically bound volatile compounds in different blueberry cultivars by GC-MS and UPLC-QTOF-MS

This study focuses on exploring the variations in the content and composition of glycosidically bound volatiles (GBVs) across different blueberry cultivars. Volatile aglycones were analyzed using headspace solid-phase microextraction combined with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (HS-SPME-GC-MS), and a blueberry GBV database was constructed by matching these aglycones with common sugar moieties. Additionally, ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-QTOF-MS) was utilized for the preliminary identification of blueberry glycosidic aroma precursors. The results indicated that blueberries are rich in monoterpenol, benzenoid, and phenolic bound aroma compounds, which mainly exist in the form of diglycosides. Significant differences were observed in both the composition of volatile aglycones and sugar moieties among the tested blueberry cultivars. This research addresses the existing gap in the study of blueberry GBVs, providing a theoretical basis for the establishment of a blueberry aroma precursor database, the clarification of varietal differences in aroma precursors, and the scientific selection of cultivars for blueberry-based processed products. • Blueberry GBVs are dominated by monoterpenol diglycosides, mainly pentosyl-hexosides • Rabbiteye and highbush blueberries have distinct GBV profiles • GBV detection is more effective than hydrolyzed aglycone analysis for cultivar differentiation • Monoterpene/eugenol diglycosides are key discriminatory GBVs