Abstract:The impact of plant pathogenic fungi on soil seed banks is one of the new research areas developed during the last 20 years internationally. Progress in research in this field was reviewed in this paper. So called “seed bags burial+seeds treated with fungicides” method has been employed in the majority of experiments reported in the world literature. Compared with untreated soil seed banks the survival rates have been increased or the loss rates have been reduced, of soil seed banks treated with fungicides and buried in a variety of habitats. However,the fungicide effects varied with habitats or plant species tested. Seeds from small seeded plant species or aged seeds are more vulnerable to the fungi. Seeds containing chemical defense substances showed better persistence of seed banks due to better resistance to the invasion of pathogenic fungi. The impact of pathogenic fungi on seed banks is related closely to soil abiotic factors, including soil moisture, soil temperature, and seed burial depth, and soil biotic factors. Plant pathogenic fungi showed more severe negative effects on seed banks in humid conditions than those under drier ones, on ones in shallow soil or with high density than in deeper soil or lower density ones. Fungivores and non-pathogenic bacteria can protect seeds against pathogenic fungi in soil. Suggestions on improvement of current research methods are proposed based on the advantages and disadvantages of the existing methods. Further development in research in the field are suggested.