Differentiation between species and regional origin of fresh and freeze-dried truffles according to their volatile profiles

Abstract This study was aimed to determine whether the species and regional origin of freeze-dried truffles can be grouped based on their volatile organic compound (VOC) profiles obtained using headspace solid-phase microextraction gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (HS-SPME/GC-MS). The study looked at four globally traded truffle species: Tuber aestivum, Tuber brumale, Tuber magnatum and Tuber melanosporum. The results show that the VOC profile of freeze-dried truffles is significantly modified compared to fresh truffles. However, the study indicated that VOC transformation during freeze-drying is species-specific, and by using multivariate discriminant analysis, we were able to distinguish between all four freeze-dried truffle species equally successfully as for fresh samples, supporting the applicability of the approach in food fraud detection. Samples of T. aestivum were also collected from four major truffle hunting locations in Slovenia, to discern any differences in regional origin. Comparison of VOC profiles indicated possible disclose truffles regional origin. However, further investigations are required to improve cross-validation results.