Abstract: Cassava starches from nine different cassava varieties (TMS 97/2205, 97/0162, 92/0057, 98/0505, 92/0326, 30572, 82/0058 TME 419 and NR 8082) were evaluated as gelling agents substitute for in vitro propagation of yam (Dioscorea rotndata). In vitro yam explants (nodal segments) were seeded singly into culture tubes containing 1 mL of yam multiplication medium with no gelling agent (liquid medium-control I) and 15 mL of yam multiplication medium gelled differently in 0.2% gelrite (control II), 0.7% agar (control III) and in 7% starch from the nine different cassava varieties. Cultures were maintained at 28°C±2 illumination and 16 h photoperiod (30-40 μmole m-2 sec-1) supplied by white fluorescent tubes on shelves for four weeks. The overall percentage survival ranged from 86.67-100% after 60 days in culture. Explants in TMS 97/2205 performed relatively better in terms of height, number of leaves and nodes compared to those in liquid, gelrite or agar-gelled medium. This is significant because survival and multiplication is a key factor in the choice of a gelling agent.