Abstract: The present invention is intended to discover a composition that contains a large amount of a plant sterol completely insoluble in water and exhibiting poor solubility in oil because of its extremely high crystallinity. Such composition can be easily dispersed in water, and to produce the composition. It has been discovered that a composition obtained by adding and dissolving a small amount of phosphatidylcholine in a plant sterol that is hardly soluble in water or in oil results in such composition easily dispersible in water.

Abstract: The present invention provides a plant growth promoter comprising an epoxycylohexane derivative represented by the general formula: ##STR1## (wherein by R.sup.1 represents a hydrogen atom, C1 to C6 alkyl group or C3 to C6 cycloalkyl group, and R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 are independently lower alkyl groups or are combined to form a polymethylene group which may be substituted with an alkyl group) and gibberellin as active ingredients.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a plant growth regulator comprising as an active ingredient an epoxycyclohexane derivative represented by general formula (1): ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 is a hydrogen atom, a C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 alkyl group or C.sub.3 -C.sub.6 cycloalkyl group, and R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 are independently C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 alkyl groups or are combined to form a C.sub.2 -C.sub.3 polymethylene group which may be substituted with a C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 alkyl group, as well as to a plant growth regulator comprising the epoxycyclohexane derivative and a brassinosteroid as active ingredients. The epoxycyclohexane derivatives exhibit a potent plant growth regulating action which is equivalent to or higher than that of abscisic acid, and are useful as plant growth regulators such as a plant growth accelerator, a germination growth accelerator, a transpiration and wilting inhibitor, a cold resistance enhancer, an accelerator for growing, thickening or maturing fruits, roots, stems or bulbs, etc.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a plant growth regulator comprising as an active ingredient an epoxycyclohexane derivative represented by general formula (1): ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 is a hydrogen atom, a C.sub.1 -C.sub.6, alkyl group or C.sub.3 -C.sub.6 cycloalkyl group, and R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 are independently C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 alkyl groups or are combined to form a C.sub.2 -C.sub.3 polymethylene group which may be substituted with a C.sub.1 -C.sub.6, alkyl group, as well as to a plant growth regulator comprising the epoxycyclohexane derivative and a brassinosteroid as active ingredients. The epoxycyclohexane derivatives exhibit a potent plant growth regulating action which is equivalent to or higher than that of abscisic acid, and are useful as plant growth regulators such as a plant growth accelerator, a germination growth accelerator, a transpiration and wilting inhibitor, a cold resistance enhancer, an accelerator for growing, thickening or maturing fruits, roots, stems or bulbs, etc..

Abstract: Brassinosteroid derivatives expressed in formula (I) and formula (II) ##STR1## and a plant growth regulator containing one type or two types of these brassinosteroid derivatives as active ingredient.The invention thereby presents novel brassinosteroid analogous compounds expressed in formula (I) and formula (II) and a plant growth regulator containing these compounds showing a persisting plant growth regulating action.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a novel brassinosteroid derivative represented by the formula: ##STR1## wherein R.sub.3 represents C.sub.1-2 -alkyl,R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 which may be the same or different, represent hydrogen or acyl, respectively, otherwise R.sub.1 and R.sub.2, combining together, may form ##STR2## wherein R.sub.4 and R.sub.5 represent C.sub.1-2 -alkyl, and R.sub.3 represents methyl only in this case.The brassinosteroid derivative represented by the above formula (I) exhibits a favorable plant growth regulating effect on various plants in agriculture and horticulture.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a novel steroids represented by the formula (1): ##STR1## wherein Z represents ##STR2## n is integer of 1 to 3, R represents hydrogen, halogen, CF.sub.3, lower alkyl, lower alkoxy or --CO.sub.2 R', wherein R' represents hydrogen, alkali metal or lower alkyl, andR.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 represent hydrogen or acyl, respectively.The compound of the formula (1) of the present invention exhibits high durability as well as excellent plant growth regulation.

Abstract: A process for producing a steroid compound which is useful as an intermediate for synthesizing plant growth regulators, brassinosteroids, and is represented by the general formula (4): ##STR1## in which R.sub.2 is a methyl or ethyl, and * indicates the binding site of R.sub.1 to a steroid nucleus, or general formula (5): ##STR2## wherein R.sub.1 is as defined above. According to the process disclosed herein, an intermediate for a brassinolide, epibrassinolide, homobrassinolide or derivatives thereof can be produced highly advantageously in the industries.