Comparative Study of Volatile Components in Fruits of Thorny and Non-thorny Types of Zanthoxylum schinifolium

Abstract

Volatiles in fruits of thorny and non-thorny types of Zanthoxylum schinifolium were determined and compared. In all samples, linalool, d-limonene, sabinene, 3-nonanone, β-myrcene and β-phellandrene were identified as the predominant volatiles. They presented 26.50%, 24.41%, 14.91%, 6.52%, 4.82% and 3.33% of total relative area (RA) in thorny type sample, respectively. Similarly, the six predominant volatiles occupied 29.12%, 19.02%, 12.77%, 2.72%, 5.02%, and 5.82% of total RA in non-thorny type sample. The contents of d-limonene, sabinene and 3-nonanone in thorny type sample were significantly higher than those in non-thorny type sample (p < 0.01), whereas the contents of linalool, β-myrcene and β-phellandrene were lower. Partial least squares discriminant analysis revealed that thorny and non-thorny types samples could be clearly differentiated based on the contents of volatiles. Citronellal, linalool oxide, nonanal, 1-heptanol and (E)-2-nonenal were the marked characteristic volatiles in fruits of thorny and non-thorny types samples. The findings provide important information for cultivation and utilization of Zanthoxylum schinifolium.