Welcome to the Prairie Fruit Genebank

The Prairie Fruit Genebank (PFG) was initiated with help from the Agriculture Development Fund (ADF) for the purpose of preserving the Germplasm of fruiting plants which are specifically suited to life on the Prairies. Many people are often surprised at the diversity and abundance of prairie fruit crops which exist despite the length and severity of our winters, and the limitations of our growing season. In addition to the continued maintenance and organization of our Germplasm the PFG seeks to:

  • Connect institutions and individuals across Canada and internationally to improve cooperation and exchange. 
  • Support research involving nutritional studies, processing and the creation of value added products by making fruit available to qualified researchers.
  • Preserve information regarding the lineage, fruit characteristics, and plant characteristics of varieties originating, or adaptable to the Prairies.
  • Provide genetic material for breeders seeking to create better fruit varieties. 

We believe that there are positive social and economic spinoffs from the activities of the genebank. The fruit sector in the Canadian Prairies has the potential to be a highly profitable intensive crop. Prairie land is cheaper, has low pest pressure, and many hardy varieties are machine harvestable. In addition to the economic benefits to Saskatchewan agriculture, the PFG ensures a consistent source of germplasm for locally produced food, the importance of which is becoming increasingly apparent.

The University of Saskatchewan has a long history of apple breeding. Some of our breeding stock was recieved as early as 1920 and some more recent additions have come from as far away as China.

Our collection includes:

 Adanac
 Amur Red
 Andersen
 Battleford
 Brightness
 Brookland
 Carlos Queen
 Chipman
 Columbia
 Dauphin
 Dawn
 Dolgo
 Edith Smith
 Exeter
 Florence
 Garnet 
 Goodland
 Haralson
 Harvester
 Heyer #6
 Heyer #12
 Heyer #20
 Honeycrisp
 Kerr
 Kingscourt
 Lasiuk #2
 Minn #447
 Minn #1695
 Norcue
 Noret
 Norhey
 Norkent VF (SX97-02)
 Norland (PF #6)
 Norson
 Parkland (PF #26)
 Patterson
 PF#5
 Prolific
 Quality Crab
 Quinte
 Rosthern #18
 Rutherford
 September Ruby
 SK Prairie Sun
 Sunnybrook
 Trail
 Trailman
 Transcendent Crab
 Wealthy
West Education Hardy Selection (WEHS)*
 WestlandFruit crops/Westland.pdf
 Winter Queen
 Northland Crab
Minn #1694
Minn #1727
Minn #1728
Minn #1767
 Klimchuck
OP Rosybloom
Fuchsia Girl
 M-7820
 PF50 (Fall Red)
 PF44
 PF10
 PF47(Red Sparkle)
PF12
Green Delicious x OP(seedlings)
 Bibby
Renown
Unity
?Robin?
Rescue 
PF51 x Sept. Ruby
Coutt #252
Coutts #115
Gemini (Coutts # 121)
Trusevitch 11-14-50
Simonette #1847
Quincy
OP Thunderchild (seedlings)
Thunderchild x WC #1 (seedlings)
WC #1 x Thunderchild (seedlings)
Centennial Crab
Belle du Quebec
Red Baron

Our collection of apricot germplasm contains the following:

Cultivar Accession # Genus Species Common Name Year Source  Origin Notes
Bunny Shade Prunus armeniaca mandchurica Apricot Rick Sawatzky, Saskatoon a seedling of Brookcot x Sunrise.  Pronounced tree form bearing large fruit
Leo Apricot #1 Prunus armeniaca mandchurica Apricot Leo Mareschal, Saskatoon
Leo Apricot #2 Prunus armeniaca mandchurica Apricot Leo Mareschal, Saskatoon
Leo Apricot #3 Prunus armeniaca mandchurica Apricot Leo Mareschal, Saskatoon
Leo Apricot #4 Prunus armeniaca mandchurica Apricot Leo Mareschal, Saskatoon
Leo Apricot #5 Prunus armeniaca mandchurica Apricot Leo Mareschal, Saskatoon
Leo Apricot #6 Prunus armeniaca mandchurica Apricot Leo Mareschal, Saskatoon
Sunrise Prunus armeniaca mandchurica Apricot Jessie Cauldwell, Saskatoon Lakeshore Tree Farms was given budwood by Jessie Cauldwell for testing but introduced and sold it as 'Sunrise' without consulting her or paying her.
Wescot Prunus armeniaca mandchurica Apricot
Q36340 H sx05-06 Prunus armeniaca mandchurica Apricot 2005 Dean Kreutzer Irkutsk, Siberia Sent to Dean by Tatiana Eremeeva from Irkutsk, Siberia through Jim Gilbert.  Survived -50C and fruited.  
Q36331 A sx05-07 Prunus armeniaca mandchurica Apricot 2005 Dean Kreutzer Irkutsk, Siberia Sent to Dean by Tatiana Eremeeva from Irkutsk, Siberia through Jim Gilbert.  Survived -50C and fruited.  
Q36333 J sx05-08 Prunus armeniaca mandchurica Apricot 2005 Dean Kreutzer Irkutsk, Siberia Sent to Dean by Tatiana Eremeeva from Irkutsk, Siberia through Jim Gilbert.  Survived -50C and fruited.  
Q36341 B sx05-10 Prunus armeniaca mandchurica Apricot 2005 Dean Kreutzer Irkutsk, Siberia Sent to Dean by Tatiana Eremeeva from Irkutsk, Siberia through Jim Gilbert.  Survived -50C and fruited.  
Q36335 K sx05-11 Prunus armeniaca mandchurica Apricot 2005 Dean Kreutzer Irkutsk, Siberia Sent to Dean by Tatiana Eremeeva from Irkutsk, Siberia through Jim Gilbert.  Survived -50C and fruited.  
Unknown Q sx05-12 Prunus armeniaca mandchurica Apricot 2005 Dean Kreutzer Irkutsk, Siberia Sent to Dean by Tatiana Eremeeva from Irkutsk, Siberia through Jim Gilbert.  Survived -50C and fruited.  

Our collection of nanking cherry germplasm consists of the following:

Variety/Cultivar Accession # Genus Species Common Name Year Source  Origin Notes
SX93-19 Prunus tomentosa Nanking Cherry 1993 Rob Stephenson Ukraine Brought back from Ukraine by Rob Stephenson.  Called 'Japanese Cherry' by the locals
SX08-05 Prunus tomentosa Nanking Cherry 2008 Horticulture Plots Grounds Nursery, U of S, Saskatoon Sk. Seed collected in 1998 from our hardiest nanking cherry seedlings.  These seedlings were grown from seed picked on U of S grounds.  These are the hardiest Nanking cherries known to Rick Sawatzky. 

Our collection of pincherry germplasm consists of the following:

Variety/Cultivar Accession # Genus Species Common Name Year Source  Origin Notes
PC 20-8-25 Prunus penysylvanica Pincherry These are pincherry selections made on the Horticulture plots.  The seed lot is SX83-42.
PC 20-8-32 Prunus penysylvanica Pincherry These are pincherry selections made on the Horticulture plots.  The seed lot is SX83-42.

Our collection of plum germplasm contains the following:

Cultivar Accession # Genus Species Common Name Year Source  Origin Notes
Acme Prunus (P. nigra x P. salicina)
Beta Prunus (P. besseyi x P. salicina) This genetic combination has been given the catagory names 'cherry plums' or 'chums'.
Brookgold Prunus (P. salicina)
Brookred Prunus (mixed species?)
C57-1A   Prunus (P. besseyi x P. salicina)
Delta Prunus (P. besseyi x P. salicina)
5-34-8.80 Prunus Prunus triloba var. multiplex an ornamental double flowering plum
5-34-11.35 Prunus Prunus triloba var. multiplex an ornamental double flowering plum
5-34-15.25 Prunus Prunus triloba var. multiplex an ornamental double flowering plum
5-34-25.50 Prunus Prunus triloba var. multiplex an ornamental double flowering plum
Dura Prunus (P. besseyi x P. salicina)
Elite Prunus (P. nigra x P. salicina)
Epsilon Prunus (P. besseyi x P. salicina)
Fofonoff Prunus (P. salicina) Presumptuously given the name 'Homesteader' by Lakeshore Tree Farms for marketing purposes.
Gamma Prunus (P. besseyi x P. salicina)
Geddes Prunus (P. nigra x P. salicina)
Green Elf SX84-03 Prunus (P. salicina) Cherry Plum 1984 Bert Porter Cherry Plum 
Ivanovka Prunus (P. salicina)
Kappa Prunus (P. besseyi x P. salicina)
Manor Prunus (P. besseyi x P. salicina)
Mount Royal Prunus (P. domestica )
Muckle Plum Prunus (Prunus nigrella) an attractive ornamental. A hibrid of Prunus nigra and Prunus tenella.
New Oka   Prunus (P. besseyi x P. salicina)
Omega Prunus (P. besseyi x P. salicina)
Opata Prunus (P. besseyi x P. salicina)
Patterson Pride  Prunus (P. nigra x P. salicina)
Pembina   Prunus (P. nigra x P. salicina)
 (may be Superb) Prunus (P. nigra x P. salicina)
Prairie Prunus (P. nigra x P. salicina)
Ptitsin #3 Prunus (P. salicina)
Ptitsin #5 Prunus (P. salicina)
Ptitsin #9 Prunus (P. salicina)
Ptitsin #12 Prunus (P. salicina)
Red Dandy Sdlg.  Prunus (mixed species?)
Rosenheim Cherry  Prunus  (mixed species?)
Sandcherry sdlgs  Prunus  (P. besseyi)
Sx88-43 Prunus (Prunus tomentosa x Prunus besseyi) Sandking Cherries  1988 Bert Porter Porter's Nanking, Sandcherry cross that fruits. This combination has been given the general common names of 'Black Nanking' or 'Sandking'.
Sx88-44 Prunus (Prunus tomentosa x Prunus besseyi) Sandking Cherries  Hybrid.  Nanking x Sandcherry. This combination has been given the general common names of 'Black Nanking' or 'Sandking'.
Black Nanking Sx95-11  Prunus (Prunus tomentosa x Prunus besseyi) Sandking Cherries  Cathy and Barry Cocks DNA Gardens, Elnora AB. Looks like a Nanking and Sandcherry hybrid. This combination has been given the general common names of 'Black Nanking' or 'Sandking'.
Sapalta Prunus (P. besseyi x P. salicina)
Sigma Prunus (P. besseyi x P. salicina)
Supreme    Prunus (P. nigra x P. salicina)
Bennet Highland SX82-27  Prunus americana hybrid Plum 1982 Mr. Highland
Red Dandy Sdlg. SX84-02  Prunus mixed species (?mostly nigra and some salicina) Plum 1984 Bert Porter
Green Elf SX84-03  Prunus (P. salicina) Cherry Plum 1984 Bert Porter
Sx95-03   Prunus (P. americana) Plum 1995 Canwood Sk. Looks like a wild plum, found growing 100m SE of Harvey Dionne's place.  Exellent pollinator.
Wessex  Prunus  (mixed species?)
Wild Plum PG14-22  Prunus  (P. nigra)
Wild Plum 310   Prunus (P. nigra)
Winered  Prunus  (mixed species?)
Zeta (P. besseyi x P. salicina)
PL00-01 Prunus salicina Breeding work seedling population
PL00-02 Prunus salicina Breeding work seedling population
PL02-01E Prunus salicina Breeding work seedling population
PL02-02 Prunus salicina Breeding work seedling population
PL02-03 Prunus salicina Breeding work seedling population
PL02-04 Prunus salicina Breeding work seedling population
PL02-05 Prunus salicina Breeding work seedling population
PL02-06 Prunus salicina Breeding work seedling population
PL04-01 Prunus salicina Breeding work seedling population
PL04-02 Prunus salicina Breeding work seedling population

Our collection of sandcherry germplasm consists of the following:

Variety/Cultivar Accession # Genus Species Common Name Year Source  Origin Notes
SX00-21 Prunus besseyi Sandcherry 2000 Bob Bors Honeywood Nursery Sandcherry seeds from a bush at Honeywood Nursery
SX00-22 Prunus besseyi Sandcherry 2000 Bob Bors Honeywood Nursery Sandcherry seeds from large sandcherries at Honeywood Nursery.
SX00-23 Prunus besseyi Sandcherry 2000 Bob Bors Honeywood Nursery Red sandcherry seeds from Honeywood Nursery.
SX00-24 Prunus besseyi Sandcherry 2000 Bob Bors Honeywood Nursery Bulk sandcherry from Honeywood Nursery.
SX08-03 Prunus besseyi Sandcherry 2008 Seedling line that we have had a long time.  Unknown origin.  Characterized by unusual mildew resistence and upright growth habits.

Our selection of saskatoon germplasm contains the following:

Cultivar Accession # Genus Species Common Name Cultivar Year Source  Origin Notes
1177 Amelanchier A. Alnifolia Saskatoon Berry 1177
5 Amelanchier A. Alnifolia Saskatoon Berry 5
98 Amelanchier A. Alnifolia Saskatoon Berry 98
Al Wes Amelanchier A. Alnifolia Saskatoon Berry Al Wes
Al Wes Shell Lake Amelanchier A. Alnifolia Saskatoon Berry Al Wes Shell Lake
Bargholz Amelanchier A. Alnifolia Saskatoon Berry Bargholz
Beaubier Amelanchier A. Alnifolia Saskatoon Berry Beaubier
Bluff Amelanchier A. Alnifolia Saskatoon Berry
Buffalo Amelanchier A. Alnifolia Saskatoon Berry
Campbell Amelanchier A. Alnifolia Saskatoon Berry Campbell
Dyck Amelanchier A. Alnifolia Saskatoon Berry Dyck
Eberts Amelanchier A. Alnifolia Saskatoon Berry Eberts
Engele Amelanchier A. Alnifolia Saskatoon Berry Engele
Forestburg Amelanchier A. Alnifolia Saskatoon Berry
Gallaher NW Amelanchier A. Alnifolia Saskatoon Berry Gallaher NW
Gallaher RF Amelanchier A. Alnifolia Saskatoon Berry Gallaher RF
Hawes '97 Amelanchier A. Alnifolia Saskatoon Berry Hawes '97
Hawes '98 Amelanchier A. Alnifolia Saskatoon Berry Hawes '98
Hawton Amelanchier A. Alnifolia Saskatoon Berry Hawton
Holodniuk Amelanchier A. Alnifolia Saskatoon Berry Holodniuk
Honeywood Amelanchier A. Alnifolia Saskatoon Berry Parkside Sk.
Innes/Alvina Amelanchier A. Alnifolia Saskatoon Berry Innes, Alvina, SK
Innes/Borden Amelanchier A. Alnifolia Saskatoon Berry Innes, Borden, SK
Kalenchuk Amelanchier A. Alnifolia Saskatoon Berry Kalenchuk
Martin sx87-03 Amelanchier A. Alnifolia Saskatoon Berry 1987 Dieter Martin Martin is a Thiessen seedling Seedling from the Thiessen gene pool. 20 July 87
Meadow Lake Amelanchier A. Alnifolia Saskatoon Berry Meadow Lake
Muir Amelanchier A. Alnifolia Saskatoon Berry Muir
Nelson Amelanchier A. Alnifolia Saskatoon Berry Some of these are located on the Craig and Yvette Hamilton farm west of Raddisson, SK.
Northline sx90-04 Amelanchier A. Alnifolia Saskatoon Berry 1990 Tom Ward Received 2 plants(looks like tissue culture propogation). 10 Aug 90/Recieved from Beaverlodge. 30 Oct. 67
Par 90 Amelanchier A. Alnifolia Saskatoon Berry
Par 90 TRS sx87-04 Amelanchier A. Alnifolia Saskatoon Berry 1987 Brent Zettl, Rodney Parenteau Langham, Sk. Non-suckering selection from the original Thiesson farm site.  20 July 87
Parkhill Amelanchier A. Alnifolia Saskatoon Berry
Pasture Amelanchier A. Alnifolia Saskatoon Berry
PearsonII Amelanchier A. Alnifolia Saskatoon Berry
Pembina sx67-52 Amelanchier A. Alnifolia Saskatoon Berry 1967 Beaverlodge Nursery Pembina on Showy Mtn. Ash Root. 30 Oct. 67
Quaker Amelanchier A. Alnifolia Saskatoon Berry
Regent Amelanchier A. Alnifolia Saskatoon Berry
Reid#1 Amelanchier A. Alnifolia Saskatoon Berry
Reid#2 Amelanchier A. Alnifolia Saskatoon Berry
Reid#3 Amelanchier A. Alnifolia Saskatoon Berry
Senga Amelanchier A. Alnifolia Saskatoon Berry
Smokey Amelanchier A. Alnifolia Saskatoon Berry
Smokey x Regent Amelanchier A. Alnifolia Saskatoon Berry
Soron Amelanchier A. Alnifolia Saskatoon Berry Soron
Success Amelanchier A. Alnifolia Saskatoon Berry
Thiessen Amelanchier A. Alnifolia Saskatoon Berry
Wicks Amelanchier A. Alnifolia Saskatoon Berry Wicks
Amelanchier A. fernaldi  Saskatoon Berry
Amelanchier A. interior  Saskatoon Berry
Amelanchier A. intermedia  Saskatoon Berry
Amelanchier A. spicata  Saskatoon Berry
102 Amelanchier A. spicata  Saskatoon Berry 102
c.51 Amelanchier A. spicata  Saskatoon Berry c.51