The hrp genes exist in 4 kinds of Gram-negative plant pathogenic bacteria and are responsible for the pathogenicity of bacteria. They can induce hypersensitive response on non-host and resistant plants. In the present paper, we summarized the hrp genes clusters, the relationship between hrp and avr genes, harpin proteins encoded by hrp genes, modulation and function of hrp genes, and plant-bacteria interactions mediated by hrp genes in more details. Moreover, trends in future research of plant pathogenic bacteria hrp genes have also been analyzed.