The effects of various nitrogen sources and of the cultivation time on the biosynthesis of N-15-labelled azoverdin were studied in batch cultures of Azomonas macrocytogenes ATCC 12334. Growth for 48 h in the presence of ammonium sulfate (0.2 g/liter) resulted in 95% labelling of azoverdin with N-15. A growth-related synthesis of azoverdin, under both nitrogen-fixing and ammonium-assimilating conditions, was observed.