Abstract: STAYGREEN（SGR）/ NON-YELLOWING（NYE）gene encods a leaf senescence related protein, which plays an essential role in chlorophyll breakdown. Mutants of the SGR gene exhibit stay-green phenotype in many plants, however, the functions of different SGRs are variant. In this article, the latest research findings of SGR were reviewed from three aspects, including the function of SGR, the relationship between SGR and chlorophyll degradation, and the regulation of SGR. Meanwhile, the research direction of SGR in main grain crops in China was prospected.

Key words: SGR, stay green, chlorophyll breakdown, senescence