Comparative Transcriptome Analysis Reveals Differential Expression of VcWOX Genes in Cultivated and Acid-Tolerant Blueberries Under pH Stress

This study investigates the expression patterns of VcWOX genes in cultivated and acid-tolerant blueberry species under different pH stress conditions. Utilizing a comparative transcriptome analysis approach, we examined the transcriptional responses of VcWOX genes in both cultivated (A) and acid-tolerant (B) blueberries subjected to two distinct pH levels: pH 4.5 and pH 6.5. The transcriptomic data, sourced from the publicly available GDV database (http://www.vaccinium.org), underwent normalization to generate a comprehensive heatmap visualization. Each pH treatment group comprised four biological replicates per blueberry species, with numerical labels on the heatmap corresponding to specific sample IDs. The color bar adjacent to the heatmap provides a visual representation of gene expression levels. Blue hues indicate low transcript abundance, while red hues signify high transcript abundance. This analysis provides valuable insights into the potential roles of VcWOX genes in mediating blueberry responses and adaptation to pH stress, particularly in the context of acidic environments.