Assessment of taste profile dynamics during crabapple (Malus prunifolia (Willd.) Borkh.) ripening by metabolomics and electronic tongue analysis (opens in new tab)

Crabapple (Malus prunifolia (Willd.) Borkh) is valued for its ornamental appearance, effectiveness as a rootstock, and rich nutritional profile. However, the flavor profile and metabolite composition are poorly characterized, which hinders a comprehensive assessment of its overall value. This study combined broad-spectrum untargeted metabolomics with electronic tongue analysis to systematically characterize the flavor and metabolite profiles of M. prunifolia across four distinct ripening stag...