Rice root fungus. Confocal light micrograph of spores (round) of a Polymyxa sp. fungus infecting rice root cells. Although the fungus does not kill host cells, it can act as a vector for viral diseases such as rice stripe necrosis virus (RSNV). A confocal microscope detects light only from the focal point of its objective lens, allowing sharp images of thin sections of an intact specimen to be obtained. This image was produced using the cells' natural fluorescence under laser illumination. Magnification unknown.