Updated publication reference for PubMed record(s): 33519854. The marker- and genome-based development of drought resistant and high yield cereal crops is the most pressing activity in a constantly more stress- and harmful environment for plant productivity. Genome-based assisted breeding is only capable to cover 30-40 % of phenotypic variance according to the most recent GWAS studies. There are many processes which are not predictable by genome information, especially protein translation and activity which is crucial for phenotypic responses and survival of the plants under severe stresses. Therefore, we present comparative proteomic and physiological analysis under drought stress in two of the most important staple food crops pearl millet and wheat thereby representing C4 and C3 plants. Here, we have selected contrasting genotypes, and performed a large-scale comparative analysis from the molecular to the phenotypic level under drought stress. We were able to establish molecular-physiological phenotypes for: 1. Stay green protein signature in contrasting pearl millet genotypes which is highly correlated to the physiological data, in the submitted manuscript. 2. No clear indication of stay green proteome signatures in contrasting wheat genotypes but instead differential senescence proteome signatures not capable to cope with similar drought stress. These mechanisms are decisive for drought resistance and yield/grain filling under stress conditions and for the first time these physiological phenotypes (seed yield, root growth, and photosynthesis) are directly linked to the molecular proteomic phenotype. We think these results are of broad importance for the scientific community. This study demonstrates the enormous molecular and phenotypic plasticity because the selected genotypes represent the extreme points of stress adaptation and yield protection.