Mango (Mangifera indica) Aroma Discriminate Cultivars and Ripeness Stages

Mango (Mangifera indica) has many nutritional attributes that stimulate its consumption, such as sweetness, balanced acidity and intense fruity aroma. In this study, it was demonstrated that both the variety and ripening stage have a significant impact on the aroma of mango. The volatile compound profile of “Tommy Atkins”, “palmer”, “espada” and “Carlota” varieties in green and ripe stages were characterized by headspace solid-phase microextraction gas chromatography mass spectrometry (HS-SPME/GC-MS). Thirty-three volatile compounds were identified, 30 from “Tommy Atkins”, 29 from “espada”, 25 from “palmer” and 10 from the “Carlota” variety. The major compounds were monoterpene and sesquiterpene hydrocarbons, regardless of the degree of maturity. However, the oxygenated monoterpenes, esters and lactones were also identified as minor compounds. δ-3-Carene terpene is the most abundant in the varieties “Tommy Atkins” and “palmer”, α-terpinolene is the most abundant in the cv. “espada”, and myrcene in cv. “Carlota”. The profile’s aroma obtained by HS-SPME/GC-MS associated with multivariate data analysis lead to discrimination of four mango varieties in green and ripeness stages. Therefore, the volatile compounds markers of fruit maturation identified in this study can be used to increase the efficiency of mango sorting to improve quality control and meet the consumer market requirements.