LAUSR

BACKGROUND Pollination enhances coffee quality at the material level, improves the symbolic attributes of coffee and promotes sustainability. The objective of this work was to quantify the composition of volatile compounds in roasted coffee produced in the presence and absence of biotic pollination aiming at investigating the effects of pollination on the composition of volatile compounds in coffee beans. This is the first report of its kind in the literature. RESULTS The analysis of volatile compounds in roasted coffee beans showed that pollination increased the amount of volatile compounds in the coffee beans; there was a significant increase in the amount of the following classes of compounds: pyrazines, pyrroles, pyridines, alcohols, and phenols. Considering that most volatile compounds in roasted coffee are derived from reactions involving carbohydrates, proteins, chlorogenic acids, and some alkaloids, our hypothesis is that pollinated coffee beans are better prepared for germination and for the defense of the crop against the attack of external agents. CONCLUSION The findings of this study point to the important role played by sustainable practices implemented in coffee cultivation. The results obtained in this study pave the way toward the conduct of further investigations; including the analysis of the chemical composition of aroma precursors and volatile compounds in raw coffee beans, and the study of the sensory aspects of roasted coffee. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.