How do Fire Blight bacteria survive the winter?

Fire Blight bacteria primarily survive the winter in cankers on the plant. Cankers are areas of dead or diseased tissue on the bark of the host plant, typically formed as a result of previous infections. These cankers provide a protected environment for the bacteria to remain dormant until favorable conditions return in the spring, allowing the bacteria to once again become active and spread.

While other options might also be relevant in different contexts, such as soil being a potential habitat for other pathogens or frost-covered leaves potentially harboring some microorganisms, they do not specifically serve as a primary overwintering strategy for Fire Blight bacteria. The cankers on the plant are uniquely suited to protect the bacteria during the cold months, ensuring their survival and the potential for renewed infection in warmer weather.