Comparison of tomatillo and tomato volatile compounds in the headspace by selected ion flow tube mass spectrometry (SIFT-MS).

The concentration of 31 volatiles were measured in the headspace of tomatillos using selected ion flow tube-mass spectrometry (SIFT-MS), and were compared with those in vine-ripened tomato, roma tomato, cherry tomato, and grape tomato. None of the volatiles were higher in the headspace of tomatillos than of tomatoes. Compounds (E)-2-octenal, (E)-2-pentenal, 2-isobutylthiazole, 6-methyl-5-hepten-2-one, and phenylacetaldehyde were significantly lower in tomatillo than in the tomato varieties in the headspace. After blending, volatiles in the headspace increased, and then decreased after reaching a maximum concentration, due to further degradation or depletion. Compounds (E)-2-pentenal and 1-penten-3-one reached a maximum concentration later than (E)-2-hexenal, (Z)-3-hexenal, and hexanal for tomatillo and tomatoes. The slope of the ratio of (E)-2-hexenal and (Z)-3-hexenal was not significantly different for any of the samples, implying that the activity of cis/trans isomerase was not different between tomatillos and tomatoes.