Sugarcane is a worldwide important crop for sugar and bio-energy. China produces third most sugar in the world, of which more than 90% was from sugarcane. Therefore, sugarcane plays a key role in China sugar industry. China has become the second largest sugar consumer in the world, and its rapid-developing economy, society, and living standard are driving an increasing demand for sugar. However, its sugarcane production area is in reduction caused by accelerated urbanization and extensive crop competition. A tending that sugarcane production region are moving to poor environments such as high altitude and barren land can be observed. As a result, the plants are growing under more and more stress, which seriously impacts the development and yield. Improving yield in stressed environment has become an important chanllenge for sugarcane industry. Breeding for varities with enhanced resistance has been demonstrated one of the best solution. In this paper, bio-chemical and physiological mechanism involved in harm and resistance to various abiotic stress, such as low temperature, drought, salt, heavy metal, were presented. Progress in functional gene mining related to these resistance was reviewed. The aim of this work was to offer a systemic and precise description of the research progress to abiotic stress, and thus to provide reference for studies on molecular mechanism responsing stress and breeding for robust varities.