The induction of enzymes and the accumulation of their end products associated with self-defense mechanism in rice were investigated. When rice leaves were irradiated with UV light, activities of diterpene cyclase, phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL), and cinnamic acid 4-hydroxylase (CA4H) were induced and rice phytoalexin, momilactone A was accumulated. The content of p-coumaric acid in rice leaves was closely correlated with self-defense or allelopathic potential against barnyardgrass. UV-challenged rice leaves gave rise to the inhibition of barnyardgrass growth.