Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) of nine Tuber species and two corresponding forms are identified via solid-phase microextraction-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis. Seventy-five compounds are identified. The most abundant are dimethylsulphide, 2- and 3-methylbutanal, 2-methylpropanol, and butanone.

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SPME-GC-MS analysis on four samples of saffron from different areas of Italy and from Iran were performed. Sample 1 was derived from cultivations of Crocus sativus in the zone of Salerno (Southern Italy). Sample 2 was derived from cultivations in Sardinia, Italy. Sample 3 was derived from cultivations in Abruzzo (Central Italy). Sample 4 was derived from Iran. The main components were those found in ethereal extract of saffron in a work published in 1971. Several compounds found by using other extraction-distillation techniques were not found. We found 18 compounds never discovered in saffron. In all the samples, 3,5,5-trimethyl-2-cyclohexen-1-one, 3,5,5-trimethyl-2-cyclohexen-1,4-dione, safranal and 2,4,4-trimethyl-6-hydroxy-3-carboxaldehyde-2,5-cyclohexadien-1-one were found. 3,5,5-Trimethyl-1,4-cyclohexandione was found in three samples. 5,5-Dimethyl-2-methylene-1-carboxaldehyde-3-cyclohexene, β-ionone were found in six samples, and nonanal, and 2,6-di-t-butylphenol were found in two samples. These compounds represent the compounds found with the highest frequency. Considering the relative amount of the components, safranal is the main component in all the samples. The analyses show that saffrons from different cultivation sites have some peculiarities due to the presence of some unusual components. The sample from Iran showed the presence of 3,5,5-trimethyl-2-hydroxy-2-cyclohexen-1-one, 2,7,7-trimethyl-2,4-cycloheptadien-1-one, 1,3,3-trimethyl-2-(E-2-butenylidene)-3-cyclo-hexene, 5,5-dimethyl-1,3-cyclohexadien-1-carbaldehyde, 1,1,3-trimethyl-2-(Z-2-butenylidene)-3-cyclohexene, 1-acetyl-5,5-dimethyl-bycyclo[3.1.0]hexane, and β-ionol.

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Solid-phase microextraction gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis of nineteen samples of honey from Basilicata (southern Italy) showed the presence of some flavour components never described before in honey. Furthermore, some phenyl-substituted hydrocarbons were detected. These compounds may be derived from the wastewater treatment plant in the area. Furthermore, in honey collected near an oil extraction plant, hydrocarbons were found; these may be derived from such plants present in the area.

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The effect of storage on the composition of saffron aroma is studied. Six samples of saffron from different areas of Italy are analyzed by solid-phase microextraction-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Samples 1, 2, and 3 are derived from cultivations of Crocus sativus in the zone of Salerno (Southern Italy) from 2000 to 2002. Samples 4, 5, and 6 are derived from cultivations in Sardinia, Italy (from 1998, 2000, and 2001, respectively). In all samples, 3,5,5-trimethyl-2-cyclohexen-1-one; 3,5,5-trimethyl-2-cyclohexen-1,4-dione; safranal; and 2,4,4-3,5,5-trimethyl-2-cyclohexen-1,4-dione; safranal; and 2,4,4-trimethyl-6-hydroxy-3-carboxaldehyde-2,5-cyclohexadien-1-one are found. 5,5-Dimethyl-2-methylene-1-carboxaldehyde-3-cyclohexene; 3,5,5-trimethyl-1,4-cyclohexandione; and beta-ionone are found with nonanal, dihydro-beta-ionone, and 2,6-di-t-butylphenol. Safranal is the main component in all of the samples. The most important changes are in the presence of alcohols and aldehydes and oxidation products of the major terpenoids components. Furthermore, the presence of safranal--the most important constituent of the flavor--changes during the time, increasing during 3 years, then decreasing after 5 years.

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