Sulphured and unsulphured sun-dried apricots of Alkaya, a new variety of Prunus armeniaca L. grown in the Malatya region of Turkey, were compared to study the effects of sulphur treatment on their physicochemical characteristics and aroma compounds. Colour, texture, moisture, pH, total soluble solids, sugars, organic acids, and 5-hydroxymethyl furfural contents were determined. Aroma compounds were quantified and identified by GC-MS-FID. Sulphuring treatment before sun-drying had significant effects on some physicochemical properties (pH, titratable acidity, total acids, and colour parameters) and aroma compounds of Alkaya apricots. Colour parameters showed that browning was higher in the unsulphured apricots than in the sulphured ones. A total of 45 aroma compounds were identified. Sulphuring treatment significantly affected the aroma compound profile of the dried apricots. In general, the levels of aroma compounds in sulphured apricots were found to be significantly lower than those in the unsulphured ones (P < 0.05). Pyrazines were detected only in the unsulphured apricots. The significantly higher level of norisoprenoids, lactones, esters, pyrazines, and furfural in the unsulphured dried apricots was attributed to degradation of carotenoids, oxidation of long-chain fatty acids, thermal degradation, and Maillard reaction.
