The work aims to introduce the effects of melatonin on physiological and nutritional quality, energy metabolism, flavor change, chilling injury regulation and disease resistance of postharvest fruits and vegetables, so as to provide theoretical reference for the application of melatonin in postharvest preservation of fruits and vegetables. The effects of melatonin on postharvest preservation of different fruits and vegetables at home and abroad were reviewed. Melatonin could regulate the ripening and senescence of fruits and vegetables, improve the cold resistance and disease resistance, and maintain higher nutrients and better physiological quality. Melatonin can significantly prolong the postharvest storage period of fruits and vegetables, and has broad development space in the field of postharvest preservation of fruits and vegetables in the future.