Drought and low temperature are two important environmental stress factors in apple production in China, while dwarfing rootstocks show significantly impact on growth, yield and fruit quality formation of apple trees. Nowadays, high-efficiency intensive cultivation by using dwarfing rootstocks is the development trend of the world apple industry including China. In this paper, the methods of materials treatment, indicators measuring and the resistance evaluation in drought, cold resistance studies over the years are summarized systematically. Binding to the resistance mechanisms studies in model plants, both physiology and molecular mechanisms of drought, cold resistance of apple dwarfing rootstocks are reviewed. Summary analysis of evaluation and mechanism research in stress resistance will provide a reference for screening and evaluation of apple dwarfing rootstocks, and establish theoretical bases for new variety cultivation.