Viable but non-culturable (VBNC) state is a dormant-like state of bacteria, and many species of bacteria can enter into this state when suffering stress conditions. VBNC bacterial cells can resuscitate to culturable state and recover their pathogenicity when conditions become favorable. Consequently, entering into VBNC state is considered as a survival strategy for bacteria to overcome the hostile conditions. Nowadays, VBNC bacteria pose a great potential threat to human health, food industry and agricultural production. Research on detection, induction, resuscitation and their mechanisms can provide theoretical basis for managing or reducing the risks of VBNC bacterial cells. Based on the research results of VBNC state of phytopathogenic bacteria in our lab and other research teams in recent years, we summarize all progresses of VBNC bacteria in this review, especially on the mechanisms of VBNC state formation and resuscitation. We hope that this paper will be of significant reference to the study on the survival mechanism of plant-pathogenic bacteria under stresses, the primary inoculum analysis for bacterial diseases in the field, as well as the role of VBNC cells in the disease cycle.