1,2-PROPANEDIOL IN STRAWBERRIES AND ITS ROLE AS A FLAVOR PRECURSOR

1,2-Propanediol has been identified in strawberries after solvent extr action, derivatisation to 1,2-bis(trimethylsily)oxypropane and analysi s of its TMS derivative using GLC-MS and GLC-FID. The level of 1,2-pro panediol in strawberries was fond to be 0.5 mu g g(-1) of fresh weight of fruit. Thirty-nine per cent of added 1,2-propanediol was recovered from strawberries. When exogenous 1,2-propanediol was fed to strawber ry callus cultures, 2,5-dimethyl-4-hydroxy-2H-furan-3-one-glucoside, t he glucosylated form of one of the character-impact compounds of straw berry flavour, was formed. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights r eserved.