NOVELTY - Phenyl(oxy/thio)alkanol derivatives of formula (I) and their salts are new, where (I) excludes e.g. 1-(4-bromophenoxy)-3,3-dimethyl-2-(pyridin-3-yl)butan-2-ol, 1-(4-bromophenylthio)-3,3-dimethyl-2-(pyridin-3-yl)butan-2-ol and 1-(4-bromophenylthio)-3-methyl-2-(pyridin-3-yl)butan-2-ol.    USE - (I) are useful to combat plant pathogenic fungus (claimed), nematodes, insects and mites in agriculture, forests, horticulture and viticulture. (I) are useful as herbicides, safeners, growth regulators, antimycotics, bactericides, virucides, an agent against Mycoplasmalike organisms and Rickettsialike organisms, an intermediate or precursor for the synthesis of other drugs. (I) are useful to protect industrial materials such as adhesives, paper, wall paper, cardboard, textiles, carpets, leather, wood and plastic articles against the attack or destruction by microorganisms. (I) in combination with other agent are useful as antifouling agents. The fungicidal activity of (I) to combat Alternaria solani was tested in tomato plant. The results showed that 1-(4-bromo-phenoxy)-3,3-dimethyl-2-pyrimidin-5-yl-butan-2-ol at a concentration of 100 ppm exhibited an efficiency of 99%.    ADVANTAGE - (I) exhibit good plant compatibility, warm blood toxicity and good environmental compatibility. (I) provides crops with high yields, quality, growth, increased tolerance to high or low temperatures, drought, water or salinity, increased flowering rate, plant height, high nutritional value, shelf life and/or processability. (I) exhibit broad spectrum of activity against fungus even at lower concentration.    DETAILED DESCRIPTION - Phenyl(oxy/thio)alkanol derivatives of formula (I) and their salts are new, where (I) excludes 1-(4-bromophenoxy)-3,3-dimethyl-2-(pyridin-3-yl)butan-2-ol, 1-(4-bromophenylthio)-3,3-dimethyl-2-(pyridin-3-yl)butan-2-ol, 1-(4-bromophenylthio)-3-methyl-2-(pyridin-3-yl)butan-2-ol, 2-(4-bromophenoxy)-1-(1-chlorocyclopropyl)-1-(pyridin-3-yl)ethanol, 1-(4-bromophenoxy)-3,3-dimethyl-2-(1H-1,2,4-triazol-1-ylmethyl)butan-2-ol, 1-(4-bromophenyl)-4,4-dimethyl-3-(1H-1,2,4-triazol-1-ylmethyl)pentan-3-ol, 4-(4-bromophenyl)-2-(1-methylcyclopropyl)-1-(1H-1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)butan-2-ol, 4-(4-bromophenyl)-2-(1-chlorocyclopropyl)-1-(1H-1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)butan-2-ol.    X = 5-pyrimidinyl, 1H-1,2,4-triazol-1-ylmethyl, 3-pyridinyl, 1H-1,3-imidazol-1ylmethyl or 2,4-dihydro-3H-1,2,4-triazol-3-thion-1-ylmethyl;    Y1 = O, S, SO, SO2 or CH2;    Z = Br or I; and    R = tert-butyl, isopropyl, 1-halocyclopropyl, 1-(1-4C-alkyl)cyclopropyl, 1-(1-4C-alkoxy)cyclopropyl and/or 1-(1-4C-alkylthio)cyclopropyl.    INDEPENDENT CLAIMS are included for:    (1) an agent comprising (I), diluents and/or surface active agents;    (2) the preparation of (I);    (3) an oxirane derivative of formula (II), where (II) excludes 2-(2-(4-bromophenyl)ethyl)-2-(1-methylcyclopropyl)oxirane;    (4) an oxirane derivative of formula (IVa);    (5) an oxirane derivative of formula (IVb), where R is not tert-butyl, when A is CH;    (6) a phenyl(oxy/thio)ketone compound of formula (VI), where Y1 is not O or CH2, when Z is Br; and    (7) a phenyl(oxy/thio)-ketone compound of formula (IX) (in which X is 5-pyrimidinyl or 3-pyridinyl, and where Z is not Br, when X is 3-pyridinyl).    R1a = isopropyl, 1-halocyclopropyl, 1-(1-4C-alkyl)cyclopropyl, 1-(1-4C-alkoxy)-cyclopropyl and/or 1-(1-4C-alkylthio)cyclopropyl; and    A = CH or N.