The effect of osmotic dehydration on the volatile fraction of kiwi fruit was studied, as well as the effect of freezing and frozen
storage. Osmotic treatments were carried out in sucrose solutions until the kiwi fruit reached 30Brix, at atmospheric pressure (OD)
and by applying a vacuum pulse (PVOD), by using 45 and 65Brix sucrose. Volatile compounds of fresh, dehydrated and frozenstored
(at 18 C for 1 month) samples were obtained by simultaneous distillation-extraction, and analyzed by GC-MS. Osmotic
dehydration provoked formation of esters and a decrease in aldehydes and alcohols, depending on the dehydration treatment
applied, which is similar to what occurs during kiwi ripening. A severe reduction of all volatile compounds occurred after one
month in frozen storage, which smoothes the changes induced by osmotic treatments. Only small differences between dehydrated
and non-pretreated frozen/thawed samples could be recognized.