Abstract: In order to establish a method which is rapid and low in cost,for isolating and identifying the viable cells of Ralstonia solanacearum E. F. Smith (R. solanacearum)in burley planted soil,a semiselective medium (PCCG)combined with polymerase chain reaction (PCR)method were used. 12 strains were acquired, purified,and identified by internal transcribed spacer (ITS)region and BLAST in NCBI. The results showed that the 12 strains were highly homologous to R. solanacearum (92.6%),which suggested that the method was suitable for the isolation and identification of R. solanacearum in soil. Furthermore,the results of Hayward's classification criterion of R. solanacearum showed that the 12 strains all belonged to biovar Ⅲ.