## 1 Introduction  
The _Nectriaceae_ family was introduced in 1865 to accommodate the hypocrealean species, having ascomata that are generally yellow and orange-red to purple and usually change color in potassium hydroxide and lactic acid [1; 2]. The family is associated with phialidic asexual morphs that produce conidia, which can range from anterosporous (single-celled) to phragmosporous (multi-celled) [3]. Some genera affiliated with _Nectriaceae_ have straight asci and conidia, while those of other genera are strongly curved [1]. The reexamination of _Nectriaceae_ fungi has been carried out continuously since 1950 by several taxonomists [4; 5; 6; 7; 8; 9; 10; 11; 12; 13]. The genus _Nectriia_ is characterized by well-developed or minute stromata, subglobose to broadly pyriform and gregarious perifhecia that are laterally or not collapsing when dry, two- or three-layered perifhecial walls, smooth to warted perifhecial surfaces, cylindrical to clavate asci with or without an apical ring, and uni- or multisetpated ascospores with spinulose or striate surfaces [14]. _Nectriaceae_ is one of the largest families of _Hypocreales_ (_Sordaniomycetes_, _Ascomycata_) [15], with 167 genera described in Mycobank (9 February 2024, Mycobank). They are frequently found on both living and decaying woody materials, soil, fruiting bodies of other fungi, and insects and occur on various substrates in tropical and subtropical regions around the world [9]. Several of them are documented as endophytes or opportunistic plant pathogensand pathogens of crops and humans [16]. They have the potential to degrade resistant plant material [17] and are used in industrial and commercial applications [3]. The genera _Fusarium_ and _Neonectria_ are the most studied taxa in _Nectriaceae_ due to their relevant economic importance as plant pathogens. The genus _Fusarium_ is one of the largest genera in the family _Nectriaceae_, and more than 1000 species have been reported in 2022 [15]. _Fusarium_ was included in the top 10 globally most important genera of plant-pathogenic fungi based on its scientific and economic importance [18]. The genus _Neonectria_ has 57 species reported in Mycobank (9 February 2024, Mycobank). _Neonectria_ species are known for the infection of the branch and trunk, which causes lesions known as cankers; they are normally associated with beech and fruit tree bark cankers [19]. The most well-known _Neonectria_ plant pathogens are _N. coccinea_ (European beech bark disease); _N. figinata_ (American beech bark disease); _N. ditissima_ (hardwood canker disease); and _N. punicea_ (beech bark disease) [20; 21]. _Neonectria_ is also a common genus of endophytic fungi [19; 22]. Fungal endophytes of plants are widespread and important for host plant health [23]. They spend all or part of their lives residing in healthy plant tissue, often in non-pathogenic mutualistic relationships and often protecting the plant against biotic and abiotic stress and promoting plant growth [22; 24; 25]. Their presence and abundance are often associated with the developmental stage of the plant, the season, and the environment [25; 26]. When in association with the roots, fungal endophytes play important roles in ecosystem processes and nutrient cycling, with beneficial symbiotic relationships with many plants [27; 28]. Endophytic fungi can be latent pathogens [29; 30], mutualists--for example, mycorrhizal fungi [31]--and/or saprobes [32; 33], but should be detected within the tissue of healthy host plants [27; 34]. The _Nectriaceae_ family also includes fungi with saprobe capabilities, in soil and freshwater [17; 35]. Freshwater fungi are believed to have originated from soil fungi approximately 1.5 billion years ago due to the similar microbial machinery found in both groups and evolutionary studies [36; 37]. In soil, _Nectriaceae_ saprobes have a cosmopolitan distribution around the world and colonize newly dead, organic plant material [38].