A simple protocol of transformation of cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) at a high frequency has been developed via Agrobacterium mediation, coupled with the use of embryogenic calli as explants. Embryogenic calli derived from only one to two somatic embryogenic calli lines of two Chinese cotton cultivars, the cvs. Ekang 9 and Jihe 321 which have low embryogenic potency were first inoculated with the A. tumefaciens strain LBA4404 harbouring binary vector pBin438 carrying a synthetic Bacillus thuringiensis-active Cry1Ac and API-B chimeric gene. Infected embryogenic calli were co-cultivated for 48 h and were then moved on to the selection medium with kanamycin (100 mg/l) for 7-8 weeks. Then, the kanamycin-resistant calli (Kmr) subcultured in proliferation medium would re-differentiate to form somatic embryos in 30 days. Cotyledon embryos were transferred to 100-ml Erlenmeyer flasks for germination and regeneration. Putative transformants were confirmed by polymerase chain reaction and Southern blot analysis. Forty-five regenerated plants were successfully transferred to soil, of which 12 proved to have the active Cry1Ac and API-B chimeric gene. Insect resistance was tested by bioassay. The transgenic plants were highly resistant to cotton bollworm (Heliothis armigera) larvae, with mortality (insect resistance) ranging from 95.8 to 100%. In comparison with the methods used in Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of cotton hypocotyls or cotyledons, about 6 months are saved by using the method presented in this paper to obtain a large number of transgenic plants.