Volatiles from different plant parts of Punica granatum grown in Tuscany (Italy)

The volatiles of different pomegranate plant parts were extracted using headspace solid phase micro-extraction (HS-SPME) and analyzed for the first time by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC–MS) and flame io- nization detector (GC-FID). All the data were submitted to multivariate statistical analysis evidencing many differences amongst the selected plant parts. Sesquiterpene hydrocarbons were the most abundant class in the aroma of leaves and in all the flower organs where the main constituents were β-caryophyllene, (E, E)-α-far- nesene and trans-α-bergamotene. Stem aroma showed similar content of sesquiterpene hydrocarbons and non- terpenes with α-humulene as main compound. The aroma of all aril parts showed high amount of non-terpenes with the prevalence of aldehydes and esters.