Abstract: Ethylene is an important endogenous hormone in plant. It can regulate metabolism and affect physiological activities and nutritional quality of postharvest fruits and vegetables during storage.At the same time,ethylene as a signal molecule can regulate ripening and senescence of fruits and vegetables,induce the expression of defense genes,mediate disease reaction and the formation of plant resistance. In general,ethylene plays an important role in fruit ripening,leaf senescence and resistance to adversity stress of postharvest fruits and vegetables.This paper reviewed the role of ethylene as a signal molecular and its influence on physiological activities and resistance,also discussed regulation function of ethylene on physiological metabolism of postharvest fruits and vegetables,with a purpose to provide the theoretical basis for postharvest of fruit and vegetable preservation and fresh storage.