Objective We aimed to investigate the expression of a novel small cysteine-rich (SCR) effector protein SCR96 from the phytopathogenic oomycete Phytophthora cactorum in mammalian cells, its bioactivity and to exploit its polyclonal antibody. Results The gene encoding the SCR effector protein SCR96 was codon-optimized, custom-synthesized, cloned into pcDNA3.1(-) and overexpressed in human embryonic kidney (HEK) 293-6E cells. The recombinant protein SCR96 was prone to aggregation and purified with its monomer to homogeneity with a predicted molecular weight of 8.9 kDa. SCR96 exhibited strong phytotoxic activity on tomato seedlings at 24 h post treatment with 4.2 mu g of the purified protein. An anti-SCR96 polyclonal antibody was prepared by immunization of New Zealand white rabbits. The good-titer antibody had a detection sensitivity at 6.25-ng level and could specifically detect the SCR96 protein expressed either in yeast, or in tomato leaves. Conclusions Transient production of the SCR effector protein SCR96 in mammalian cells is reliable, providing sufficient recombinant protein that can be utilized for analysis of its phytotoxic activity and preparation of its polyclonal antibody.