Bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is a major food grain crop predominantly grown in semi-arid regions. Nevertheless, its productivity is greatly affected by drought, posing a significant challenge to sustainable cultivation. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) seed priming, followed by storage at various temperatures, in enhancing drought tolerance in bread wheat. Seeds of bread wheat were primed with GABA (1 mu M) for 18 h at a 1:5 seed-to-solution ratio and subsequently stored at 15, 25, and 35 degrees C for six weeks. Post-treatment, the seeds were sown in soil maintained at either 75% (well-watered) or 40% (drought stress) water holding capacity. Drought stress delayed germination and impeded plant growth. However, GABA priming improved seedling growth, dry biomass, water content, and photosystem efficiency, while mitigating oxidative damage under drought conditions. Additionally, drought stress induced higher activities of antioxidant enzymes and leaf free proline and glycinebetaine contents, leaf soluble phenolics, and leaf GABA contents, all of which were further enhanced by GABA priming. Storage of primed seeds at 25 degrees C yielded the most beneficial results, followed by 15 degrees C. Overall, GABA seed priming, particularly when stored at 25 degrees C, significantly bolstered the antioxidant defense mechanisms and leaf proline and glycinebetaine, leaf soluble phenolics and leaf GABA accumulation, thereby sustaining photosystem efficiency and growth in wheat under drought stress.