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This thesis explores Bionectriaceae and acremonium-like fungi, diverse groups found worldwide in habitats such as soil, decaying wood, leaf litter, plant tissues, insect hosts, and other organic substrates. These fungi play important ecological roles as saprotrophs, endophytes, plant pathogens, mycoparasites, and entomopathogens. They also hold significant value in agriculture, industry, and medicine, serving as biological control agents and producers of useful enzymes and bioactive compounds.

This study circumscribes the Hypocreales, a fungal order that includes Bionectriaceae and most acremonium-like fungi, highlighting their diversity and classification challenges. Special focus is placed on the genus Clonostachys, well known for controlling plant diseases, with combined DNA and morphological analyses clarifying species boundaries and revealing 24 new species. Expanding to the family level, the study revises the taxonomy of the Bionectriaceae, recognizing 50 genera and 352 species, including seven new genera and 35 new species. Acremonium-like fungi are further examined, revealing them to belong to multiple families within Hypocreales and related groups, resulting in the proposal of two new families, seven new genera, and 34 new species.

The thesis concludes by summarizing key findings, discussing both the positive and negative impacts of these fungi on agriculture and human health, and outlining current challenges alongside future research directions. Overall, this work advances our understanding of fungal diversity and evolution, highlighting their ecological and biotechnological potential.