Sample provided by plant after short time (6)
I believe the answer is:
taster
'sample' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
'plant after short time' is the wordplay.
'plant' becomes 'aster' (aster is a kind of plant).
'after' means one lot of letters go next to another.
'short time' becomes 't' (abbreviation for time).
'aster' put after 't' is 'TASTER'.
'provided by' acts as a link.
(Other definitions for taster that I've seen before include "Sampler of food" , "A professional savourer, of wine or tea" , "Quality assurance worker" , "Winery worker" , "person in charge of testing" .)