Leaf color mutants in rice are important materials for deciphering the photosynthesis, chlorophyll synthesis and degradation, and plant growth and development, and they are also with high practical value in producing hybrid seeds and improving biomass. To date, over 120 genes modifying the leaf color have been molecularly cloned on 12 chromosomes, including chromosome 3 where the most number of genes were reported. In this paper, the genetic mechanism and molecular isolation of leaf color genes, the regulation mechanism and the practical use in rice breeding were summarized and prospected. This might provide a basis for high photosynthetic breeding and the exploitation of leaf color germplasm resources suitable for hybrid seed production in rice.