Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae (Xoo), the causative agent of bacterial blight disease, is one of the major threats to rice productivity. Yet, the molecular mechanism of rice-Xoo interaction is elusive. Here, we report comparative proteome profiles of Xoo susceptible (Dongjin) and resistant (Hwayeong) cultivars of rice in response to two-time points (3 and 6 days) of Xoo infection. Low-abundance proteins were enriched using a protamine sulfate (PS) precipitation method and isolated proteins were quantified by a label-free quantitative analysis, leading to the identification of 3846 protein groups. Of these, 1128 proteins were significantly changed between mock and Xoo infected plants of Dongjin and Hwayeong cultivars. Based on the abundance pattern and functions of the identified proteins, a total of 23 candidate proteins were shortlisted that potentially participate in plant defense against Xoo in the resistant cultivar. Of these candidate proteins, a mitochondrial arginase-1 showed Hwayeong specific abundance and was significantly accumulated following Xoo inoculation. Overexpression of arginase-1 in susceptible rice cultivar (Dongjin) resulted in enhanced tolerance against Xoo as compared to the wild-type (WT). In addition, expression analysis of defense-related genes encoding PR1, glucanase I, and chitinase II by qRT-PCR showed their enhanced expression in the overexpression lines as compared to WT. Mitochondrial localization of the selected arginase was further confirmed by fluorescent microscopy using GFP-tagged arginase. Taken together, our results uncover the proteome changes in the rice cultivars and highlight the functions of arginase in plant defense against Xoo.