The volatile compounds of bitter orange (Citrus aurantium L.) products, essential oil (EO) and the heart cut (HC) of the distillate were detected and quantified using gas chromatography (GC) coupled with a mass spectrometer and flame ionization detector. The flavour compounds were characterized using GColfactometry by nine trained panellists by the frequency of detection method. In total, 53 molecules were detected in the EO and 40 in the HC. The EO was characterized by 19 major odour compounds (frequency of detection from 6/9 to 9/9) with different aromatic notes among which a-pinene (floral), octanal (green), limonene (citrus), linalool (floral), a-terpineol (indeterminate: ND, green), linalyl acetate (floral), (E,E) or (E,Z)-2,4-decadienal (frying), dodecanal (ND), caryophyllene (green) and an unknown compound (IT=1678, plastic note). The HC presented a complex mixture of several molecules in low concentrations, which characterize the bitter orange flavour. The HC was characterized by seven high FD odour compounds, three of them (myrcene, a-phellandrene, and limonene) with citrus and mint aromatic notes, and the other four ((Z)-linalool oxide, a-terpinolene, linalool and neral) with floral notes. The comparison of these two products brought to light that the overall process of maceration/distillation could induce the loss of 15 strong odours previously found in simple essential oil and characterized by plastic and metal notes. These results show that maceratingdistilling bitter orange peels and EO makes it possible to select the most pleasant odour compounds while eliminating some off-odours present in the EO. This is the first time that the characterization of odour-active compounds has been carried out on bitter orange products. This valuable information could help for further investigation on process/product optimization. Copyright (C) 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd

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A 3-year study was undertaken to establish the effect of field nutritional sprays, combined with insecticide treatments or not against Asian Citrus psyllid, on the fruit quality of ‘Valencia’ orange trees affected by the greening disease Huanglongbing (HLB). Four replicated plots were harvested, juiced, and pasteurized. Nine to twelve trained panelists evaluated the juice using seven flavor, five taste, four mouthfeel and three aftertaste descriptors. There was little difference between treatments in 2013; only orange peel flavor and bitterness were significantly lower for the insecticide treatment. In 2014, positive attributes, such as orange and fruity flavor, sweetness and mouthfeel body, were significantly higher in the insecticide treatment. Sourness was highest in untreated control, and there were no differences between treatments for bitterness. In 2015, negative attributes, such as grapefruit, orange peel and typical HLB flavor, sourness, bitterness, and astringency, were significantly higher in untreated control fruit, suggesting perhaps that the beneficial effect of nutritional and insecticide treatments was cumulative, only manifesting on the 3rd year of the study, and or because of the progression of the disease affecting untreated controls. Data are discussed in relation to juice chemical composition, including volatiles, sugars, acids, limonoids, and flavonoids, adding to the fundamental knowledge concerning chemical drivers of orange flavor.

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