Ralstonia solanacearum is a relevant and widespread phytopathogenic bacterium that causes a wilt disease with deadly effects on many economically important crops and ornamentals. It belongs to the β-proteobacteria and is considered a “species complex”. This soil and water borne bacterium enters the plant roots, multiplies through the xylem, collapses the host and returns to the environment. It has effective pathogenicity determinants to invade and colonize host plants but, also exhibits successful strategies for survival in harsh conditions. Thus, in the presence of host plant cells, a regulatory cascade activates secretion of cell wall-degrading enzymes and the cluster of hypersensitive reaction and pathogenicity genes encoding components of a type III secretion system. Once in the plant tissues, high densities of the pathogen increase expression of virulence genes and production of exopolysaccharide, the main pathogenicity determinant. These genes are controlled by a density-dependent regulatory network taking part in a quorum sensing system. After destroying the plant, the bacterium can persist in the environment through diverse survival forms until contact with a new host.