4. Conclusion
Headspace SPME was employed to analyse aroma active volatiles in cooked Jasmine, Basmati and Jasmati rice. They can be distinguished by the pattern of sulphur volatiles via PCA analysis. The character impact compound, 2-AP was found in all three cultivars. A sulphur-containing ‘‘cooked rice’’ character impact compound, 2-AT was detected in cooked Jasmine rice. There are five additional new aroma active volatiles, 3 methyl-2-butene-1-thiol, geranyl acetate, b-damascone, b-damascenone and A-ionone which contribute nutty, sweet floral character to the aroma of cooked aromatic rice. When all 30 aroma-active volatiles were grouped in eight general aroma categories and the aroma intensities for each aroma group were summed, Jasmati contained 35% less roasty/nutty total aroma intensity than Jasmine and Basmati rice. The ‘‘medicine’’ aroma was not observed in Jasmine rice. Jasmine rice contained 35% more sweet fruity/floral total intensity than Basmati and 79% more than Jasmati rice. The findings of this study as basic knowledge can be useful in breeding rice cultivars.