The strawberry is confirmed as one of the most dynamic categories in the global fruit and vegetable sector, but the industry’s growth faces increasingly significant challenges: climate change, production sustainability, and new market expectations. This is the context for the genetic improvement activities carried out by Nova Siri Genetics, which presents Elyson®, a new strawberry variety developed as part of its breeding program.
The new cultivar NSG 48 was presented at an evening event held on 12 March 2026 at the three-Michelin-starred Da Vittorio restaurant in Brusaporto. The event brought together producers, nurseries, buyers and other industry professionals. The choice of this location, which symbolises Italian gastronomic excellence, highlights the focus on quality and product enhancement that characterises Nova Siri Genetics’ approach to varietal development.
The international context shows strong growth trend in the strawberry industry, but also increasingly complex challenges for the supply chain,” explains Carmela Suriano, Nova Siri Genetics EMEA Director..
“Our genetic improvement activities aim to respond to these developments by creating cultivars with low cold requirements that can adapt to mild climates and offer value to all the stakeholders in the supply chain, from nurseries to producers to the market.”
Founded in 2005 in Basilicata, Nova Siri Genetics develops strawberry and berries varieties for major international production areas characterized by temperate and Mediterranean climates. The company’s research activity mainly focuses on low-chillingcultivars that are resilient to climate change and capable of ensuring stable production and consistent quality.
“Our work is not limited to creating new varieties,” continues Suriano. “The goal is to provide the supply chain with genetics capable of generating a real competitive advantage and contributing to the enhancement of the sector.”
From breeding to the variety
Each new variety is the result of a structured process of research and experimentation, which integrates genetic analysis, multi-year agronomic trials, and qualitative assessments of the fruit.
The selection process consists of three main stages,” explains Nicola Tufaro, breeder at Nova Siri Genetics..
We initially evaluate the agronomic characteristics of the variety – rusticity, earliness, and productivity —and then analyze the organoleptic profile of the fruit, such as sugar-acid balance, aroma, and shelf life. The final step concerns the commercial positioning of the variety in the different market segments.”
The selection NSG 48 – Elyson® is the result of a cross-breeding programme between parent plants characterized by rusticity, earliness and high-quality fruit. The experimentation process began in 2020 at the Nova Siri Genetics research centre in Basilicata, in an experimental field consisting of approximately 20.000 selections..
After four years of agronomic evaluations, sensory analyses and quality tests conducted also with independent laboratories, the selection NSG 48 was identified as the most promising.
The characteristics of Elyson®
The new variety stands out for its combination of agronomic and qualitative characteristics:
- high vegetative vigor
- flowers positioned above the foliage, which facilitates pollination and harvesting
- early ripening, from the first weeks of January
- high productivity
The fruit is medium to large in size, with a uniform bright red color, firm and elastic flesh. It has an aromatic profile characterized by persistent sweetness,and a sugar content above 11° Brix..
Thanks to the combination of organoleptic quality, aesthetic uniformity of the fruit, and good post-harvest performances, lyson® presents itself as a variety oriented towards the premium segments of the sector,with the aim of supporting commercial enhancement strategies in quality-conscious markets.
From research to market
After initiating the European plant variety rights procedure with the CPVO, the Elyson® project entered the testing phase in collaboration with nurseries and producers in different areas of Italy and Spain. At the same time, commercial trials were launched at logistics platforms and fruit and vegetable markets to evaluate the variety’s performances along the supply chain.
The 2026 season represents a phase of presentation and consolidation of field and market trials, with the large-scale commercial launch expected to begin in the 2027 season.
“A variety is not only measured in the field, but throughout the entire journey that brings the product to the consumer,” concludes Suriano. “This is why dialogue with producers, wholesalers, buyers, and operators in the supply chain is an integral part of our innovation process.”
Nova Siri Genetics
Nova Siri Genetics is a research company specialized in the development of new varieties of strawberries and berries with low cold requirements. Breeding activities are carried out at the company’s research center in Basilicata, and NSG’s cultivars are now grown in the main international production areas. The company aims at promoting the development of strawberry cultivation by providing innovative varieties that combine agronomic performances, fruit quality, and commercial enhancement.
