Insights into “wheat aroma”: Analysis of volatile components in wheat grains cultivated in saline–alkali soil

The wheat grains that are cultivated in saline–alkali soil exhibit a richer "wheat aroma" compared to their counterparts. This study characterized the composition and content of volatiles in five wheat kernel varieties, harvested from two fields with varying pH levels and total salt content in the soil. The wheat grown in soil with high pH and total salt content had significantly lower levels (p < 0.05) of ethyl 3-methylbutanoate and 1-octen-3-one and significantly higher levels (p < 0.05) of 1-butanol and 1-octen-3-ol. Among all factors, plant site contributed the highest F-value contribution rate (more than 77 %) for these four volatile compounds. Six e-nose sensors responsive to these four compounds exhibited consistent trends. Therefore, the lower of ethyl 3-methylbutanoate and 1-octen-3-one, the higher of 1-butanol and 1-octen-3-ol in wheat, grown on saline–alkali soil, served as characteristic markers for "wheat aroma".