The objective of this study was to identify the volatile components of a native Chinese chilli pepper (Capsicum frutescens var) at different ripening stages. The peppers at green, breaking and red colour stages were first investigated by simultaneous distillation extraction combined with gas chromatography and mass spectrometry. Principal component analysis was used to visualise the grouping tendencies of the studied stages of pepper. Eighty-five volatile organic components were identified and quantified in this study. Forty compounds were found at the green stage, fifty-three at the breaking stage and sixty-five at the red colour stage. The flavour activity compounds were discovered in Chinese pepper. Qualitative and quantitative discrepancies were observed in different ripening stages. The amount of alkenes and aldehydes increased from 2.762% and 0.120% in green stage to 11.137% and 14.485% in colours' stage. The content of Alcohols decreased from 30.169% to 23.698%. Only, the aromatic compound disappears during maturity. Ketones enhanced from 0.983% to 2.693%. Esters were always reducing. Zhi min-Liu and Wen tong-Xue contributed equally to this work. Not detected. † The reliability of the identification proposal is indicated by the following: A, mass spectrum agreed with mass spectral database; B, mass spectrum and Kovats index agreed with standards; C, mass spectrum and Kovats index agreed with standards and literature. Values were expressed as mean ± SD (n = 3).
a-cValues with different letters were significantly different (P < 0.05).Pepper volatile during ripening R. Liu et al.