The study compared and analyzed the quality of loquat jam with different cooking times through physicochemical parameters, headspace-gas chromatography-ion migration spectroscopy (HS-GC-IMS) and intelligent senses. The results showed that with the prolongation of the cooking time, the color of loquat jam slowly deepened, the energy significantly increased, the adhesiveness, gumminess, hardness and chewiness enhanced, the free amino acid content increased from 22.40 to 65.18 mg/g. The organic acid content increased from 1.64 to 9.82 mg/g. Forty-seven volatile flavor compounds were identified in five types of loquat jam using HS-GC-IMS, among which the relative content of aldehydes was sharply higher than that of other chemical substances, playing an important role in the flavor formation of loquat jam. LJ0, LJ1 and LJ2 had higher aldehyde content, followed by LJ3 and LJ4 had the lowest aldehyde content. The orthogonal partial least squares-discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) screened 15 marker compounds that could distinguish five types of loquat jam. The E-nose results showed a significant difference in olfactory sense between loquat jam cooked for 100 and 120 min. The E-tongue results corroborated the results of free amino acids (FAAs) and organic acids, indicating that the gustatory sense of loquat jam changed significantly when the cooking time reached 120 min. The results provided a basis for further research on the relationship between the cooking process and quality characteristics of loquat jam.

To explore the effects of different preservation methods on the quality of loquat after fresh-keeping treatment, various preservation techniques were employed. These included natural preservation (NP), vacuum freezing preservation (VFP), vacuum at room temperature preservation (VP) and freezing preservation (FP). The quality assessment involved analyzing the effects of these preservation methods using physicochemical indexes, a colorimeter, an electronic nose (E-nose), an electronic tongue (E-tongue) and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS). The results showed minor differences in loquat quality under different preservation methods, with sensory scores ranging from 55 to 78 and ΔE values ranging from 11.92 to 18.59. Significant variations were observed in moisture content (ranging from 53.20 g/100 g to 87.20 g/100 g), calorie content (ranging from 42.55 Kcal/100 g to 87.30 Kcal/100 g), adhesion (ranging from 0.92 to 1.84 mJ) and hardness (ranging from 2.97 to 4.19 N) (p < 0.05). Additionally, the free amino acid content varied from 22.47 mg/g to 65.42 mg/g. GC–MS analysis identified a total of 47 volatile flavor substances in varieties of loquats, including 13 aldehydes, 9 esters, 6 ketones, 2 acids, 3 alcohols, 2 phenols, 3 pyrazines, 1 furan and 8 other substances. The relative content of aldehydes was significantly higher than that of other chemicals. The VFP and FP samples exhibited higher aldehyde content compared to the NP and VP samples. Moreover, Orthogonal Partial Least Squares-Discriminant Analysis (OPLS-DA) revealed 18 marked compounds that could differentiate between 5 loquat species. Analysis using E-nose and E-tongue indicated significant changes in the olfactory and gustatory senses of loquats following preservation. The VFP samples demonstrated the most effective preservation of loquat quality with minimal impact. This study provides some theoretical guidance for the home preservation of loquats.

To investigate the impact of microencapsulation on the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in Zanthoxylum oil, this study compared unencapsulated Zanthoxylum oil (ZO) with microencapsulated Zanthoxylum oil (MZO) using physicochemical analysis, sensory evaluation, and molecular sensory analysis. Sensory evaluation revealed significant differences in aroma attributes between ZO and MZO, whereas no notable differences were observed in numbing intensity or overall acceptability. Colorimetric analysis indicated significant distinctions between the two samples. Electronic nose (E-nose) analysis demonstrated a reduction in overall aroma intensity for MZO compared to ZO. Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) identified 43 VOCs, including 22 compounds present in both samples, accounting for 46.8% of the total. Terpenes represented the predominant class in both ZO (69.7%) and MZO (68.2%). Comprehensive analysis based on odor activity value (OAV) and variable importance in projection (VIP) identified nine volatile compounds as key aroma contributors. Gas chromatography–ion mobility spectrometry (GC–IMS) detected 90 the volatile organic compounds (VOCs), with esters (30.38%) and heterocyclic compounds (10.42%) predominating in ZO, while esters (29.08%) and alcohols (26.12%) were predominant in MZO. Compared to ZO, MZO exhibited increased levels of alcohols (from 12.04% to 26.12%) and terpenes (from 1.39% to 3.53%), but decreased levels of acids (from 5.77% to 2.72%) and aldehydes (from 10.29% to 4.62%). This approach provides a comprehensive assessment of flavor quality before and after microencapsulation, offers a scientific basis for quality control, and facilitates the development and utilization of Zanthoxylum oil resources.

To assess the impact of developmental stages on the postharvest quality of loquat, fruits at five distinct maturity phases (T1–T5) were systematically analyzed. This study employed a range of analytical techniques to conduct a comprehensive examination of the variations in quality, nutritional content, and volatile compounds of loquat across different developmental stages. Sensory evaluation indicated that the T4 stage achieved the highest score (93.21 ± 1.13), with significant differences observed in a* (6.56–13.08) and b* values (16.91–22.16). Both moisture content (45.45–86.94 g/100 g) and fruit firmness (8.65–3.31 N) exhibited a decline with delayed harvest (p < 0.05). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis revealed that, as the developmental period progressed, the pores in the loquat cell walls enlarged, and the cellular structure became increasingly relaxed. GC–MS and GC–IMS detected 48 and 47 volatile compounds, respectively. Using orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis (OPLS–DA), we identified 14 key compounds that distinguish the five developmental stages. E-nose and E-tongue analyses showed significant changes in the smell and taste profiles of loquats over time, with the T1 stage notably different from later stages. This study offers important insights and guidance on the postharvest quality of loquats at various developmental stages.