Aquaporins (AQP), abundant in diversity, are the member of the major intrinsic proteins (MIPs) family with extraordinary ability to transport water, and thus, play important roles in modulation of water relations in plants. The recent advances in classification, structural characteristics, and physiological functions during plant growth and development as well as the various regulation modes of the activity and the effects of several abiotic stresses (water stress and salt stress) and phytohormones (ABA, GA and ethylene) on the gene expression of AQP were reviewed.