BioProducts Division

Contract Research & Propagation

Prairie Plant Systems Inc. provides laboratory services and propagates plants for virtually any use on a contract basis. Our strength has always been in research and development. From our earliest beginnings when we perfected cloning techniques for a variety of native fruit trees to today when we research propagation techniques for nutraceutical plants and just fulfilled a contract for our 400,000 plantlets.

Our staff, who have advanced education backgrounds and extensive experience in their respective fields, allows us to complete virtually any contract. Our facilities include a laboratory, a state of the art greenhouse, with 1,000 watt lights allowing for extended photo periods, and a small area for field production. Our Underground Growth chamber which has induced accelerated growth in several species, also adds a new dimension to our service that no other contractor is able to provide.

We are able to provide a full range of service ranging from research in the laboratory to propagating the product in the greenhouse into a field deliverable system and then introducing it into the field. We also provide services such as seed collection for the project, consulting services for plant selection related to the project and written reports, if required, for experimental projects. You, the customer may choose all of these services or just a portion of them. We are flexible enough to meet any needs you may require.

PPS's greenhouse operation has successfully completed propagation contracts in the nutraceutical industry, the urban reclamation industry and the habitat revegetation industry. Our laboratory has completed contract research projects for the department of horticulture, University of Saskatchewan and also projects with the Agriculture Food and Innovation Fund. We provide our laboratory services primarily in the field of micro propagation techniques and genetic engineering but are also capable of providing any service related to plant based systems.

Rates are negotiated on a contract by contract basis. To discuss any of your contract needs please visit our Contact page. We would be happy to meet with you to discuss any contract and provide a written proposal.

Your Orchard Stock Supplier for Tissue Culture Trees since 1988

Whether you are a large scale producer involved in international export, a U-pick operation, market gardener, an acreage owner, or someone who would like to grow their own fruit, PPS has the highest quality plants.

PPS specializes in the production of Prairie hardy fruit trees:

• Saskatoon Berry Trees,
• Dwarf Sour Cherry Trees (University of Saskatchewan),
• Haskap (Hybrid Blue Honeysuckle/Honeyberries),
• Raspberries.

"We pride ourselves at producing superior plants at a competitive price."

All of our plants material is produced by using a technique called tissue culture. Plants produced by tissue culture are clones. Simply stated, this means that all plants within one cultivar are genetically identical. This result was previously achieved only by conventional propagation methods that included grafting and cuttings. All of our plants are grown on their own rootstocks. Cloning, combined with our delivery system, provides a number of advantages to the orchard grower:

• Plants within a variety are genetically identical (clones). This enables uniform berry quality and ripening which improves the efficiency of harvesting.
• Tissue culture allows us to produce plants much faster than conventional propagation techniques. This enables us to provide you with large numbers of new varieties much faster than by taking cuttings.
• Plant material is always disease clean.
• Each plant is delivered in its own 2.5 inch pot, allowing the grower more flexibility when planting the product. The plants can be removed from their packaging boxes and left in their pots for an indefinite period provided they are given light and water.
• Established plants will produce fruit a year earlier than non cloned seedlings, and yields in subsequent years will be higher, resulting in more revenue per acre for the orchard grower.