Seed moisture content of the stored seed affects seed longevity
(Ellis and Roberts, 1980). An increase in seed moisture content
favors the deterioration process, which causes the seed to be
non-viable over a time period. During storage, seeds either gain
or lose moisture content depending on the differences in sorption
and desorption rates under fluctuating RH and temperature. The
moisture retention by the stored seeds during these different sorption
and desorption cycles is positively correlated with the area
under hysteresis loop developed using sorption and desorption curve (Moharir and Prakash, 1995). In the present study, the area
enclosed by the dehydration and rehydration curves was signifi-
cantly smaller in the case of coated seeds, which indicates its lower
moisture retention as compared to non-coated seeds (Fig. 3D, 3H)
and thereby, potentially better seed longevity.