Wax-coated jute bags preserve seed moisture content and viability over nine months of storage under contrasting humidity and temperature conditions

Abstract Jute bags are widely utilized for seed storage across the developing world. However, moisture ingress into these fabrics renders the stored seeds vulnerable to spoilage and deterioration. Here, we evaluated biomimetic, water-repellent, wax-coated jute bags (WCJBs) with uncoated control jute bags (CJBs) over a nine-month storage period with wheat and soybean seeds under two relative humidity (RH) conditions (55% and 75%) and two temperatures (22°C and 35°C). Across all eight storage conditions, WCJBs reduced moisture accumulation in the bagseed system by 32%–59%, maintained seed moisture content near the equilibrium values expected at the corresponding ambient RH, and preserved germination rates of 56%–95%, compared with 12%–65% in CJBs. Our experiments and mechanistic insights demonstrate that WCJBs offer a low-cost, breathable complement to hermetic storage for preserving grain in hot, humid environments where exposure to liquid water is possible.