The avocado fruit borer, Stenoma catenifer (Wals.) has been a limiting factor in growing avocados over the last years in many Brazilian states. This is a result of the lack of safe and feasible management practices to minimize the fruit borer damage. The aim of this study was to obtain information on the pest biology and ecology as well as on the role of natural enemies to define strategies to control the pest. Samples were taken biweekly and consisted of 20 fruits collected randomly (10 from the upper half and 10 from the lower half of the plant) in ten plants, cv. Margarida, in a commercial avocado grove in Arapongas and Cambé regions, PR, from October/2001 to September/2002. Laboratory determinations of the percentage of damaged fruit per plant region, location and number of bored fruit sites, and the number and location of the fruit borer eggs, including parasitized ones, were performed. The results showed that S. catenifer preferred to oviposit and attack fruits located on the upper half of the trees. The majority of the eggs were laid on the fruit pedicel whereas the damage was mainly located on the lower half of the fruits. Trichogrammatids were the most constant and abundant parasitoids found in both localities throughout the study period.

ResumoA degradação dos solos é atribuída à utilização de sistemas de manejo inadequados, do qual resulta a diminuição da matéria orgânica, da fertilidade química e de atributos físicos. O plantio direto é eficaz na proteção da superfície do solo devido à deposição dos resíduos culturais. Este trabalho teve por objetivo avaliar o carbono orgânico total e residual de um Latossolo Vermelho eutroférrico sob os sistemas de manejo convencional, plantio direto e pasto, utilizando uma mata secundária em processo de regeneração como referência. Quanto menor a mobilização e maior a manutenção dos resíduos vegetais sobre o solo, maiores foram os teores de carbono orgânico total e de carbono residual. Palavras-chave: Matéria orgânica, plantio direto, carbono orgânico AbstractThe soil degradation is related to inadequate use of tillage systems, which result in decrease of organic matter content, chemical fertility and physical attributes. The no-tillage system is effective in protection of the soil surface. This study aimed to evaluate the carbon content of the oxissol under conventional tillage, no-tillage and pasture systems, using a secondary forest in regeneration as reference. As smaller the mobilization and larger the maintenance in soil of the vegetable residue, larger were the content of organic carbon and of residual carbon.