Low temperature not only limits the growth and development of plants,but also limits the distribution of plants.To reduce the damage induced by low-temperature stress,plants evolve many mechanisms to resist cold stress through changing gene expression level and cellular environmental homeostasis.CBF(C-repeat binding transcription factor) plays critical roles in response to low temperature stress,and improves cold tolerance by altering the expression of cold regulated genes(COR).The functions of CBF and downstream genes regulated by CBF,the upstream genes that regulated CBF gene,and the interaction between CBF and hormones were reviewed,and the application prospect of CBF in agricultural production was raised.This review can lay the foundation for future study of crop cold tolerance mechanism,and provide theoretical reference for breeding of cold tolerant crops by gene engineering.