Pearl millet[Pennisetum typhoides (Burm.) Stapf and E. C. Hubbard] grain is equal or superior to grain of wheat (Triticum aestium L.), corn (Zea mays L.), sorghum (Sorghum bicolor Moench), and rice (oryza sativa L.) in protein and oil content. It contains similar amounts of Ca and P and more Fe than these cereals. Except for a lysine deficiency, pearl millet has an excellent amino acid profile. Limited genotype assessment suggests that protein and lysine content of pearl millet can be improved by breeding. The starch properties of pearl millet, sorghum, and corn are similar. Pearl millet oil contains more palmitic, stearic, and linolenic and less oleic and linoleic fatty acids than corn oil.

Burton (2), Panse and Bokil (12)-have emphasized the utility of estimates of genetic variance components as a basis for prediction of the response of quantitative characters to selection in breeding programs. Smith (16), Robinson et al. (14), and Comstock and Robinson (3) pointed out that when the criterion of selection gives weight to two or more characters, the magnitudes of genetic and environmental covariances also have a bearing on responses to selection that are to be expected. Smith (op. cit.), Hazel (8), and Lerner et al. (9) have considered the principles involved in construction of a selection criterion that gives optimum weight to each of several characters. They pointed out that estimates of genetic and environmental covariances among the characters as well as of the genetic and non-genetic variances of the separate characters are required. Comstock and Robinson (3) make a point of the fact that variance resulting from interaction of genotype and environment is frequently a source of upward bias in estimates of genetic variance. For example, estimates of genetic

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