170 strains of lactic acid bacteria were isolated from Sichuan pickles.Among them,33 strains were selected for their excellent characteristics in acid production through the determination of calcium dissolving ability.Through the comparison of their nitrite degradation ability in MRS liquid medium,5 strains with higher nitrite degradation ability were selected.By controlling the pH of MRS liquid medium,strain N2 was approved to degrade nitrite quickly with enzymatic degradation.When it was grown by 0.1% inoculation amount in medium of pH 6.4 containing 125 mg/L nitrite sodium and 2% of CaCO3(w/v) at 30℃ and 120 r/min for 72 h,strain N2 could degrade 90.81% nitrite sodium.Strain N2 was identified as Lactobacillus plantarum by morphologic observation,biochemical identification and sequence analysis of 16S rDNA.The pH and nitrite concentration were measured on the spontaneous and inoculation fermented(with strain N2 as fermentation agent)cabbages.The results indicated that nitrite in sauerkraut could be degraded well by strain N2.