A Review of the Fruit Volatiles Found in Blueberry and Other Species.

Variations in volatile organic compound (VOC) type and content can result in noticeable differences in fruit aroma. The genus encompasses over 500 distinct species of berry-producing plants, several of which are important to commercial horticulture. Understanding which VOCs are produced by different members of this genus could greatly aid efforts to improve the aroma of multiple crops by breeding for desirable fruit volatiles. This review summarizes the published research available on this topic, examining prior work done to characterize the volatile profiles of blueberries, cranberries, bilberries, lingonberries, whortleberries, and other berries. In addition, analytical methodologies used to obtain berry volatile profiles are discussed. Possible future directions for berry volatile research are also examined.