Members of the form genus Rhizoctonia D.C. are considered as a complex mixture of filamentous fungi, having in common the possession of a non-spored imperfect state, usually referred to as the Rhizoctonia anamorph. The group includes several of the most devastating crop pathogens like Thanatephorus cucumeris (Frank) Donk (anamorph=Rhizoctonia solani Kühn), the majority of orchid mycorrhizal symbionts (mainly belonging to genus Ceratobasidium D.P. Rogers) and a collection of saprotrophic organisms of different systematic placement. The Rhizoctonia anamorph is characterized by several common features present among members of the entire Rhizoctonia species complex. Taxa from the group have been rearranged into several groups of higher fungi, including both Ascomycota and Basidiomycota, and split into several genera, employing criteria such as the analysis and ultrastructural comparison of septal apparatus. Until very recently, classification for some of the groups within the complex has been exclusively based on criteria such as hyphal anastomosis, since other types of diagnostic features are usually scarce in these fungi. Phytopathological studies in the complex have represented the major contingent of contributions in the group, especially in the case of R. solani. Some members of the complex have been reported to be protective isolates against pathogenic members of Rhizoctonia and some other fungal pathogens. This review focuses on the knowledge of several aspects of the species of Rhizcotonia s. lato, such as its current taxonomic placement, the biology and systematics of some groups of the complex, and a revision of the methodologies employed in studying it.

This study investigates the diversity of fungal endophytes associated with several varieties of grapevines with differing modes of cultivation in the Madrid region (central Spain). Our goal is to screen for and identify new fungal biocontrol agents against vine diseases, especially those associated with young plants produced in nurseries. A total of 500 fungal strains representing 68 taxa from six locations were isolated and characterised. Differences regarding cultivar and plant part processed were analysed in terms of composition and relative abundance of species. Some of the more frequently isolated strains represented were Acremonium, Alternaria, Aureobasidium, Botryotinia, Cladosporium, Epicoccum, Fusarium, Gibberella, Nectria, Penicillium, Phoma and Trichoderma species. Botryosphaeria species and Phomopsis viticola were also frequently isolated and may be vine pathogens. Several species of Acremonium, Phoma (P. glomerata) and Chaetomium showed promising antagonistic activity at the laboratory scale.