Abstract: The views were outlined in terms of the stress mechanism of sulfur dioxide and the resistance response of plants to sulfur dioxide. This literature review puts emphasis on the mechanism of sulfur dioxide stress，symptoms and physiologic responses of plants under stress and the mechanism of plant response to sulfur dioxide. In addition， the development of fumigation device and detection measures of sulfur dioxide were briefly described. Symptoms of plant under sulfur dioxide stress and the influence factors of plant damage degree were explained in detail. The effects of sulfur dioxide stress on plant stomata，photosynthesis，chlorophyll and cell membrane permeability were analyzed. The mechanism of sulfur dioxide stress to plant was summarized from the ion and free radical theory. The response mechanism of plants to sulfur dioxide was explained by osmotic adjustment substance and enzyme protection system. Finally，the problems and directions of sulfur dioxide stress for the further research were pointed out，and also the application of sulfur dioxide by molecular biological measures was prospected to provide the related study with the value ideas and references.