[Paramagnetic properties of the conidial pigments of Aspergillus niger and Penicillium notatum fungi isolated from the mesosphere].

The conidia of Aspergillus niger and Penicillium notatum detected in the upper atmospheric layers of the Earth (58--77 km) were found to contain stable paramagnetic centres (PMC) at concentrations of 0.2 X 10(18) and 1.6 X 10(18) per gram of dry biomass, respectively. Aspergillin, the black pigment of Asp. niger, was shown to have (0.1--0.6) X 10(18) PMC per gram of dry substance (depending on the fraction). Stable paramagnetism of the conidial pigments with respect to their active protecting action in vivo is discussed on the basis of these data.