Hoo boy, that's a mess. Any herbicidal action nearby? Aphids or other plant-juice suckers on or under leaves? Did the plant perhaps freeze just after new leaves started expanding? And yes, there are some viral and mycoplasma-like organisms issues that can present like that. Only a diagnostic lab result will settle that matter.

ornamental or fruit tree ...

if fruit tree .. maybe the peeps in the fruit forum might have some idea ..

any excessive fert in the pot??

where are you ..

ken

It's a pear fruit. I used permethrin insecticide just as the buds were starting to break. I was infested last year with aphids which killed 3 of my trees. No fertiliser this year potted them last year or the year before with compost and a little fertiliser. the same happened to this tree last year that's why I didn't fertilise at all this year to eliminate that cause.

There doesn't seem to be any pests / insects about. Can't see mites or aphids at all. Not having a good time at all with 3-4 of my trees. Two apple trees are rife with what seems like bud rot. They are in the ground. The buds looked good and it is flowering - but then young leaves and flowers seem to die off and burn back and will eventually rub off.

second year of this - pulling my hair out. That said I've many other trees which don't get affected at all....?

That really looks like chemical (herbicide damage). Fertilizer - even a "hot" fertilizer - would not produce that effect. And aphids seldom ever kill anything like a tree :-) They can certainly damage and contort foliage but typically it will remain in place sufficient to accomplish photosynthesis and continue growth.

I can nearly 100% guarantee it's not herbicide . I haven't used any in over a year . Could it be watering?

Not watering and not fertilizing. And you would not necessarily have to have used the herbicide yourself - herbicide drift from neighbors using a spray product can result in this sort of malformed growth. Is the tree planted in the lawn and if so, what kind of products do you use to tend or fertilize your lawn?

And as Tom mentioned, there are some pathogenic factors that could affect growth similarly but they tend to be on the rare side of things.

It's the second year of this. And the tree is in sheltered location. It is planted in a large plastic tug/pot. I wish it was Herbacide but I honestly can't see it there are 4 other trees in pots within 1-2 meters from it. I was thinking virus or genetic - as I've never really seen it properly leafed.