The　effects　of　initial　texture　on　the　flow　behavior,　microstructure　and　texture　evolution　of　Mg-3Al-1Zn　alloy　hot　rolled　plate　with　a　strong　basal　texture　during　tension　at　room　temperature　have　been　investigated　by　experiments　and　simulations.　Three　kinds　of　specimens　were　cut　from　this　plate　with　their　tensile　directions　aligned　0　degrees,45　degrees,　and　90　degrees　to　the　normal　direction　(ND),　and　they　were　referred　as　0ND,　45ND　and　90ND　specimens,　respectively.　A　crystal　plasticity　model　was　developed　to　demonstrate　the　relationship　between　textures　and　deformation　modes.　The　results　show　that　the　general　features　of　flow　curves　and　texture　evolutions　of　AZ31　alloy　during　tension　can　be　well　explained　by　the　relative　activities　of　deformation　modes,　which　exhibit　a　pronounced　orientation　dependence　on　both　the　starting　and　current　textures.　The　obvious　yielding　behaviors　in　0ND　and　45ND　specimens　are　induced　by　the　initial　activity　of　{10-12}　twinning,　and　the　strain　hardening　behavior　is　related　to　the　activities　of　{10-12}　twinning,　basal　slip　and　prismatic　slip.　Due　to　the　existence　of　{10-11}　twinning　at　low　strain,　the　elongation　to　rupture　of　90ND　specimen　is　much　lower　than　those　the　elongation　of　0ND　and　45ND　specimens.　Although　prismatic　slip　activity　depends　on　the　initial　texture,　its　activities　always　increases　during　tension,　affecting　the　flow　curves,　microstructure　and　texture　evolutions.　The　high　prismatic　slip　activities　in　0ND　and　90ND　specimens　result　in　a　strong　{10-10}　prismatic　texture,　while　the　activity　of　pyramidal　　slip　is　always　negligible　in　all　specimens　and　insensitive　to　the　initial　texture　during　tension.　(C)　2015　Elsevier　Inc.　All　rights　reserved.