Heard a chap from Tasmania being interviewed on radio about the new methods they have implemented in achieving a successful outcome. The tree has to be absolutely sterile when it leaves the nursery ie so fungi in the potting mix as the inoculant they introduce won’t take if there is other fungi there. They train their dogs on Truffle Oil and reward them for a find with a treat of some kind (not a truffle!) and when the truffle is ready, you usually see a huge bulge in the soil. If the bulge is not there and the dog lets you know there is, you have to get down on your hands and knees and check the aroma. The larger the truffle, the higher the aroma. Then it has to be dug out by hand! No tools – as the truffle could easily be damaged. Ref: Sheryl