Abstract: From the aspects of botany characteristics, uses, propagation methods and stress tolerance, the recent advances of the research on Prosopis species was reviewed.The genus Prosopis includes 44 species which are native to arid and semiarid zones in America, Africa and Asia.Prosopis species cannot only provide food, firewood, timber and medicine materials, but also ameliorate soil and fix nitrogen.Prosopis species have hard seedcoats that require scarification as a pretreatment for timely and increased germination.The asexualpropagation of Prosopis species was particularly difficult and erratic.At present, the asexual propagation methods mainly include tissue culture, grafting, airlaying and rooting cuttings.The morphological, physiological and biochemical characteristics of Prosopis species were affected by the stress of drought, salinity and high temperature.At the same time, they also adapted to these stressesthrough regulating their morphological, physiological and biochemical aspects.

Key words: Prosopis, botany characteristics, uses, propagation methods, stress tolerance