Seed coating is among the most potentially beneficial treatments to enhance seed performance, contributing to the improvement of crop stands due to its role in improved seedling development. Thus, micronutrients such as zinc exhibit potential for use in seed coatings. The objective of this research is to evaluate the effect of coating wheat seeds with zinc sulfate on traits that are related to seed quality during storage and nutrition efficiency during seedling growth. The levels of ZnSO4 used were 0, 1, 2, 3 and 4 mL kg(-1) seed. After 0, 3 and 6 months of storage, the germination percentage, mean root length, root dry mass, seedling emergence, nutritional efficiency (absorption, transport and use) and zinc content in the seeds were evaluated. Seed coating with ZnSO4 increased seedling dry weight and zinc content in roots, which are the primary sink for this nutrient. Higher rates of ZnSO4 coating resulted in higher absorption efficiency and a concomitant decrease in Zn transport and use efficiency. Thus, the application of appropriate doses of zinc to seeds increases the accumulation of this nutrient, resulting in well-nourished plants that present improved initial development under adverse conditions.