Comparison of the volatile compounds from several commercial plum cultivars

Volatile fractions were prepared from five ripe commercial plum cultivars and one breeding line by continuous vacuum steam distillation‐hexane extraction and analyzed by capillary GC and GC‐MS. Thirty‐six compounds were identified. The eight major compounds for most cultivars were hexenal, butyl acetate, ( E )‐2‐hexenal, butyl butyrate, hexyl acetate, linalool, γ‐decalactone, and γ‐dodecalactone. Minor constituents included eleven esters, two alcohols, four lactones, two terpenes, two saturated hydrocarbons, palmitic acid, three phenyl compounds and nonanal.