Provided is a novel compound which can germinate seeds of root parasitic plants, more specifically, a compound represented by the formula: wherein R1, R2, R3, R4, and R5 are the same or different and each represents a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, a lower alkyl group, or a lower alkoxy group, or R1 and R2 are linked together to form a lower alkylenedioxy group, or R1 and R2 together with the adjacent carbon atoms form a benzene ring, or R2 and R3 are linked together to form a lower alkylenedioxy group, or R2 and R3 together with the adjacent carbon atoms form a benzene ring, R6 represents a hydrogen atom or a lower alkyl group, X and Y are the same or different and each represents an oxygen atom and a sulfur atom, and n represents an integer of 0, 1 or 2, and a method for controlling root parasitic plants.