The jabuticaba is a native Brazilian fruit that has aroused worldwide interest in terms of its nutritional composition and biological activity. However, research on the profile of volatile compounds (VOCs) emitted by these fruits is rare. This study presents the first identification of VOCs from four jabuticaba species. The aim of the study was to characterize the aromatic profile of the following species: ‘Sabará’ (Plinia jaboticaba), ‘Escarlate’ (Plinia phitrantha × Plinia cauliflora), ‘Otto Andersen’ (Plinia cauliflora), and ‘Esalq’ (Plinia phitrantha). The analysis was performed by headspace solid-phase microextraction combined with gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (SPME-GC-MS). Multivariate analysis techniques applying the partial least squares-discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) and heatmap were used to compare the results. Fruit quality parameters were determined in terms of fresh mass (g), skin color, soluble solids, and titratable acidity. A total of 117 VOCs was identified including terpenoids, esters, alcohols, aldehydes, alkanes, ketones, and carboxylic acids, with 36 VOCs common to all four species. Terpenes were the majority for all jabuticabas with smaller contributions from other volatile classes, especially β-cubebene, β-elemene, and D-limonene for the ‘Otto Andersen’ jabuticaba.

Pereskia aculeata Miller is a native cactaceae found from the Northeast to the South of Brazil. This plant is recognized by the high nutritional value of their leaves, which are the most used in cooking and folk medicine. However, studies on the chemical characteristics and antioxidant capacity of the ora-pro-nobis fruits are scarce. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the best harvest point of the ora-pro-nobis fruits to optimize the content of bioactive compounds and their antioxidant capacity. The fruits were manually harvested, defined by their peel colors in three maturity stages: unripe (green), intermediate (yellowish green), and ripe (yellow) stages. The following attributes were evaluated: soluble solids (SS), titratable acidity (TA), SS/TA ratio, pH, and content of bioactive compounds, such as total chlorophylls, carotenoids, yellow flavonoids, total phenolic compounds, and antioxidant capacity. There was a decrease in the content of chlorophyll followed by an increase in the of total carotenoids and yellow flavonoids, due to the maturity stage. For the total phenolic compounds, it was not observed significant difference between the stages. The antioxidant capacity was quantified by the ORAC method in lyophilized pulp in the unripe (1.95 mmol 100 g-1 trolox) and ripe (3.85 mmol 100 g-1 trolox) stages. The lowest contents were observed in the intermediate (0.80 mmol 100 g-1 trolox in lyophilized pulp) stage. The maturity stage significantly influenced the bioactive compounds of ora-pro-nobis, which presented higher values of total carotenoids, yellow flavonoids, and antioxidant capacity in ripe fruits.

Cambuci (Campomanesia phaea) is a native fruit from the Atlantic Forest, one of the richest biomes in the world. The cambuci has soft and astringent pulp, green coloration and is characterized as an aromatic fruit. This is the first study that describes the quality evolution of cambucis during their ripening. Quality parameters were evaluated at three harvesting points: weight loss, pulp firmness, skin color, total soluble solids, titratable acidity, ascorbic acid, total soluble sugars, total phenolic compounds, soluble and total tannins, respiratory activity, ethylene production, and volatile compound profiling. Fruit harvested in stages 1 somewhat rounded equatorial region) and 2 (increasingly rounded equatorial region) of ripening had two additional days of postharvest life. A decrease in firmness was observed over the days, demonstrating desirable pulp softening. No increase in ethylene production associated to respiratory peaks were observed. Volatile profile changed according to ripeness, and early harvested fruit was able to produce partially volatile compounds found in ripe fruit.