Comparison of volatiles in noble-rotten and healthy grape berries of Tokaj

The presented work compares basic parameters as well as comprehensive profiles of volatile organic compounds identified in healthy and noble-rotten grape berries of 6 Tokaj grapevine varieties (Muscat Lunel, Furmint, Lipovina, Zeta, Kabar and Fat grape). Volatile components were determined by GC x GC-HRTOF-MS with previous solid phase microextraction of volatiles from head space and expressed as relative concentrations. The greatest differences between the basic composition of healthy and noble-rotten grapes were found in glycerol, ethanol, citric, gluconic and succinic acid. 116 volatile compounds were identified and compared in scope of their ability to distinguish healthy and noble-rotten berries in context of aromatic or non-aromatic variety. Regardless of grapevine variety, 59 compounds significantly distinguished noble rot from healthy berries whereby the most important were 2-hepten-1-ol, 2-octen-1-ol, hexadecanoic acid, 3,5-octadien-2-one, sulcatol and hexyl acetate. Volatile profiles of healthy as well as noble-rotten berries of aromatic variety Muscat Lunel differed from non-aromatic ones and were characterized mostly by higher relative concentrations of terpenoids neo-allo ocimene, cis rose oxide, linalool, nerol oxide and sulcatol.