The effect of chitosan coating combined with phytic acid on the preservation of fresh cut lotus root was investigated. The result showed that composite coating with 1% chitosan and 1% phytic acid could decrease the weight loss rate and malondialdehyde (MDA) content of fresh-cutting lotus root, postpone browning, restrain the activities of peroxidase (POD), polyphenol oxidase (PPO) and phenylalanine ammonia-lysae (PAL), and maintain the content of vitamin C and polyphenol at relatively high level