The aim of this project was to determine to what extent physiological, morphological and chemical growth characteristics are genetically linked and/or caused by common factors. First, 84 accessions of H. spontaneum from different habitats in Israel were screened for their variation in growth traits. A cross was made between contrasting genotypes and the F3 offspring were grown under close to optimal conditions and analysed for their growth characteristics. A map was constructed using AFLP markers. On chromosome 1 two QTLs for relative growth rate and specific leaf area were found at the same location. On chromosome 4 two QTLs for photosynthesis per unit leaf area and stomatal conductance were found at the same position. These traits are probably genetically linked or controlled by a common factor