Avocado cultivars have a great diversity of tolerance to low temperatures due to their regions of origin. The Mexican breeds are more tolerant, the West Indian breeds are more sensitive and the Guatemalan breeds have intermediate behavior. In this study, the zoning of climate risks in the state of Parana was based on the severity of frost, through the analysis of historical series of minimum temperatures in a Geographic Information System. We identified four distinct areas of risk, namely, a zone with very strong and frequent frosts where cultivation is not recommended, a zone where frosts are strong and only the cultivar Fuerte is recommended, a zone with moderate frosts and only Primavera and Margarida cultivars are not recommended, and a zone of low risk in the north and west of Paraná, where all cultivars are indicated. The diversity of climates in Paraná and thermal requirements of the cultivars allow the harvest during most of the year through a combination of different cultivars and growing regions.
Persea americana; risk of frost; degree days; harvesting period
