Cairneyiella heathii draft genome sequence. Cairneyella variabilis strain:VPRI 42388

Cairneyiella heathii is an ericoid mycorrhizal fungus that forms the symbiosis with a variety of ericaceous plants. Natural hosts found to date include: Woollsia pungens, Leucopogon parviflorus, Epacris microphylla and Epacris impressa. The genus Cairneyiella has 90-91% ITS identity with known members of the Meliniomyces (formerly Rhizoscyphus) genus and thus appears to be a sister group to the Meliniomyces. The genus Cairneyiella is named in honour of the late Professor John Cairney (1959-2012), while the species epithet refers to the heath plants with which the species typically associates. The type culture, FRR 6070, is stored in the FRR culture collection at North Ryde, Australia.