Proposed model of drought-stress tolerance in maize germinating seeds, based on our key findings of this study. Up- or down-regulation of proteins in both wild-type Vp16 and its mutant vp16 are marked by upward and downward pointing arrows, respectively. Key to abbreviations: ABA, abscisic acid; MAPK, mitogen-activated protein kinases; GADPH, glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase; MDH, malate dehydrogenase; SDH, succinate dehydrogenase; LEA, late embryogenesis abundant proteins; 40S RPs, 40S ribosomal proteins; 60S RPs, 60S ribosomal proteins; PPIase, peptidylprolyl isomerase; PPR, pentatricopeptide repeat protein; USP, universal stress protein.