Abstract: In response to abiotic stresses，plants required reactive oxygen species（ROS）and methylglyoxal（MG）.In low doses，ROS or MG are implicated in the processes of signal communication，seed germination，plant growth and development，and abiotic stress responses.However，ROS and MG are highly reactive and cytotoxic，and in excess cause oxidative or MG stress in plants，respectively.Accordingly，plants had evolved an array of mechanisms of ROS and MG production and scavenging，so as to maintain a dynamic balance between ROS and MG in plants.Plant ROS and MG anabolic and catabolic processes，and their interrelationships were studied.The regulation of ROS and MG metabolisms in plants under different abiotic stresses（stress from drought，temperature，salt，alkali，saline-alkali and heavy metal）were investigated.In the future，in-depth research shall be conducted to investigate the signaling function of MG in plants，the mechanism by which the glyoxalase system responded to abiotic stresses，and the development/selection of genetic lines with a deficient or enhanced glyoxalase system，so as to provide indications for a deeper understanding of the mechanisms of ROS and MG metabolisms in plants under abiotic stresses.