Kinetin(KN) is an inducer of rice(Oryza sativa L.) defense/stress responses, as evidenced by the induction of inducible secondary metabolite and defense/stress protein markers in leaf. We show a novel light-dependent effect of KN-triggered defense stress responses in rice leaf. Leaf segments treated with KN(100 ${mu}M$) show hypersensitive-like necrotic lesion formation only under continuous light illumination. Potent accumulation of two phytoalexins, sakuranetin and momilactone A(MoA) by KN that peaks at 48 h after treatment under continuous light is completely suppressed by incubation under continuous dark. Using two-dimensional gel electrophoresis we identified KN-induced changes in ribulose-1, 5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase, energy- and pathogenesis-related proteins(OsPR class 5 and 10 members) by N-terminal amino acid sequencing and mass spectrometry. These changes were light-inducible and could not be observed in the dark(and control). Present results provide a new dimension(light modulation/regulation) to our finding that KN has a potential role in the rice plant self-defense mechanism.