Raphanus (2n = 2x = 18) consists of Raphanus sativus L. and R. raphanistrum L. R. raphanistrum L. is a wild relative species of R. sativus L., which is an ancient and important annual or biennial herbaceous cultivated crop as vegetable, oilseed, or medicine worldwide. Radish has rich diversity in morphology, bionomics, and genome through long evolution in the primary origin center of eastern Mediterranean and the Middle East, as well as domestication and breeding in multiple secondary centers of Europe, Central Asia, Southern Asia, and Eastern Asia. In order to safely protect and effectively utilize radish germplasm resources, germplasm collecting strategies, conservation methods, and status of collection and conservation were stated firstly. Secondly， the content, technology application, and advance of characterization, evaluation and excellent gene resource mining at the levels of phenotypics, metabolics, and genomics were introduced in detail. In order to break through the major constraints in radish production, the approaches of elite germplasm discovery, germplasm enhancement for extensive breeding options, and germplasm use were presented. Eventually, authors look forward to the prospect of the development of radish germplasm resources research and utilization from four aspects of radish species and their genetic diversity protection, in-depth identification and evaluation of germplasm resources, mining of elite gene resources based on gene-chip and large-scale whole genome resequencing, and germplasm enhancement based on advanced comprehensive technologies.