NOVELTY - Use of substituted phenyl propargyl compounds (I) or their salts, as herbicides or plant growth regulators, is claimed.    USE - (I) is useful: to combat plant damage and for the growth regulation of the plants, in cultures, preferably cultivation plants or ornamental plants (claimed). Tests details are described but no results given.    ADVANTAGE - (I) is non-toxic, hence eco-friendly. (I) provides high crop yield.    DETAILED DESCRIPTION - Use of substituted phenyl propargyl compounds of formula (I) or their salts, as herbicides or plant growth regulators, is claimed.    Q = carbocyclic aromatic residue with 6 ring atoms or heteroaromatic residue with 5-6 ring atoms, where: the heteroaromatic residue exhibits 1-4 N, or 1 S, or 1 S and 1 N as a hetero ring atoms and the carbocyclic aromatic residue or the heteroaromatic residue at one or more CH group is optionally substituted;    A = unsaturated nitrogen containing divalent group of formula (-C(R6)=N-O-) (A1), (-C(R6)=N-N(R7)-) (A2), substituted pyrazole group of formula (A3)-(A5);    R2 = 1-6C-alkyl, 2-6C-alkenyl, 2-6C-alkynyl, 3-6C-cycloalkyl, 5-6C-cycloalkenyl, heterocycle with 3-6 ring atoms and 1-3 heteroring atoms of N, O or S, phenyl (all optionally substituted), or H;    (R3)n = e.g. CO2R20, halo, CN, azido, SF5, isocyanato, nitro, C(R1c)=N-OR1d or -C(SR1e)=NR1f;    R20 = H, 1-6C-(halo)alkyl, (1-6C)-alkoxy-carbonyl, 1-6C-alkoxy-oxalyl or 3-6C-cycloalkyl (optionally substituted by one or more 1-4C-alkyl);    R1c = H, 1-6C-(halo)alkyl, or 3-6C-cycloalkyl (optionally substituted by one or more (1-4C)-alkyl);    R1d = H, 1-8C-(halo)alkyl, 2-8C-(halo)alkenyl or 2-8C-alkynyl;    R1e = 1-6C-alkyl;    R1f = H or 1-6C-alkyl; either    R4, R5 = H, 1-4C-alkyl, 1-4C-haloalkyl or 3-6C-cycloalkyl (optionally substituted by one or more halo or (1-3C)-alkyl); or    R4C, R5C = 3-6-membered ring, which is a carbocyclic or heterocyclic ring with 1 or 2 hetero ring atoms of N, O or S, where the ring is optionally substituted by one or more halo, 1-4C-alkyl, 1-4C-haloalkyl, 1-4C-alkoxy or 1-4C-haloalkoxy;    R6 = 1-6C-alkyl, 2-6C-alkenyl, 2-6C-alkynyl, phenyl, pyridyl, phenoxy, 3-6C-cycloalkyl, 5-6C-cycloalkenyl or saturated heterocyclic residue with 3-6 ring atoms and 1 or 2 heteroring atoms of N, O or S (all optionally substituted), or H;    R7 = R6, formyl, COR, COOR, SOR or S(O)2R;    R = 1-6C-alkyl, 2-6C-alkenyl, 2-6C-alkynyl, phenyl, pyridyl, phenoxy, 3-6C-cycloalkyl, 5-6C-cycloalkenyl, a saturated heterocyclic residue with 3-6 ring atoms and 1 or 2 heteroring atoms of N, O or S or CONR1aR1b;    R1a, R1b = 1-6C-alkyl, 2-6C-alkenyl, 2-6C-alkynyl, phenyl, pyridyl, phenoxy, 3-6C-cycloalkyl, 5-6C-cycloalkenyl or a saturated heterocyclic residue with 3-6 ring atoms and 1 or 2 heteroring atoms of N, O or S (all optionally substituted), or H;    n = \-1; and either    R8, R9 = 1-6C-alkyl, 2-6C-alkenyl, 2-6C-alkynyl, halo, CN, carboxyl, formyloxy, nitro, OH, thio, phenyl, pyridyl, phenoxy, 3-6C-cycloalkyl, 5-6C-cycloalkenyl or a saturated heterocyclic residue with 3-6 ring atoms and 1 or 2 heteroring atoms of N, O or S, 1-6C-alkoxy, 1-6C-alkylthio, 2-6C-alkenyloxy, 3-6C-cycloalkoxy, 5-6C-cycloalkenyloxy, COOR, SOR, S(O)2R, OCOOR, OSOR, OS(O)2R, CONR1a or OCONR1aR1b (all optionally substituted) or H; or    R8R9 = 2-5C-alkylene chain, which can be interrupted by one or more heteroatom of N, O or S, and optionally substituted by one or more halo or (1-4C)-alkyl.    Where the residue Q with the group (A) of (A1)-(A5) is bonded through unsaturated carbon atom, and the group CR4R5 with group (A) in the formula (A1)-(A5) is bonded with the saturated heteroatom of group (A), the double bond in (A1) or (A2) is in Z or E configuration. An INDEPENDENT CLAIM is included for 7 methods for the preparation of (I) comprising e.g. reacting a compound of formula (Q-A-H) (II) with a substituted benzene compound of formula (III); or reacting an acetylene compound of formula ((A-Q)(R4)(R5)C-C=?CH) (IV) with a substituted benzene compound of formula (V); or reacting an amide substituted benzene compound of formula (VI) with a carbonyl compound of formula (Q-CO-R6) (VII) to obtain (I) (in which A is (A1)); or reacting an amide substituted benzene compound of formula (VIII) with (VII) to obtain (I) (in which A is (A2)); or reacting a benzene substituted compound of formula (IX) with boron hydroxide compound of formula (Q-B(OH)2) (X) under the condition of cross coupling to obtain (I) (in which A is (A3)-(A5)).    X = leaving group.