Chitosan,the only biological large existence polysaccharides,non-toxic and odorless,biodegradable,biocompatible,low cost,excellent dispersion,moisturizing,film forming,antimicrobial,is becoming a hot research topic on preservation of fruits and vegetables.The mechanism of chitosan and its derivatives on fresh keeping fruits and vegetables are introduced.The application of chitosan and its derivatives for the preservation of fruits and vegetables are reviewed.In addition,some suggestions of the development are also presented.