Abstract:Asian corn borer, Ostrinia furnacalis (Guene), is targeted by the transgenic Bt maize. The evolution of resistance to Cry1Ac toxin by the Asian corn borer was investigated through the selection by exposure larvae to the toxin incorporated into artificial diet. Cross-resistance to other Bt toxins was determined by bioassay. A resistant strain of Asian corn borer, ACB-AcR, selected with Cry1Ac protein incorporated into artificial diet developed significant levels of resistance (14-fold) to Cry1Ac protein and 6.3-fold cross-resistance to Cry1Ab after 27 generations selection. Additionally, ACB-AcR maintained on a constant concentration (8μg/g) was developed 48.9-fold resistance to Cry1Ac after 82 generations selection, but the cross-resistance to Cry1Ab did not increased. LC50s of Cry1Ab, Cry1Ah, and Cry1Ie were measured to ACB-AcR and ACB-BtS stains. Significantly, the highest cross-resistance was observed to Cry1Ah with resistance ration up to 14.9-fold. Low levels (4.3-fold) of cross-resistance were detected with Cry1Ab. In contrast, Cry1Ie susceptibility was unaffected by selection with Cry1Ac. Based on EC50s, ACB-AcR developed 32.6-fold resistance to Cry1Ac protein. Relatively low levels of cross-resistance were observed to Cry1Ah and Cry1Ab. However, no cross-resistance was detected with Cry1Ie.