DETERMINATION OF AROMATIC COMPOUNDS OF SOME PROMISING POMEGRANATE GENOTYPES

Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) fruit, one of the most important antioxidant sources, is also rich in volatile component content. Four hybrid genotypes were used as material for this study. Those varieties were selected as promising varieties in breeding programme that carried out in Institute of Aegean Agricultural Research. It was aimed to determine the volatile constituents of the flavors of ‘Type 18’, ‘Type 19’, ‘Type 38’ and ‘Type 40’ by comparing of ？-1513 which is considered as standard variety. Volatile component contents of fruits of each genotype were extracted by using diethyl ether solvent for liquid–liquid extractions. The amounts and identifications of the volatile compounds of extracted samples determined with a gas chromatograph–mass spectrometer. According to the obtained results, a total of 54 volatile compounds were determined in total pomegranate aroma profiles, including 14 alcohols, 14 esters, 8 terpenes, 8 aldehydes, 5 ketones, 3 saturated hydrocarbons and 2 phenols. ‘Farnesyl Acetate’ and ‘Limonene’ were found as important volatiles in Type 19 and Type 18, respectively. Those genotypes should be considered for both of table consumption and processing for fruit juice, in terms of aroma