Little growth in a bison after mutation (6)
I believe the answer is:
bonsai
'little growth' is the definition.
'bonsai' can be an answer for 'growth' (I have seen 'stunted growth' mean 'bonsai' so perhaps 'growth' could also mean 'bonsai'). I also know that 'little' relates to this answer.
'a bison after mutation' is the wordplay.
'after' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'mutation' is an anagram indicator.
'a'+'bison'='abison'
'abison' is an anagram of 'BONSAI'.
'in' is the link.
(Other definitions for bonsai that I've seen before include "Japanese shrub" , "Dwarf tree found in Bosnia" , "Bosnia (anag.)" , "specimen with restricted roots?" , "small growth" .)