New method makes truffles easier to find  A hunting dog relaxes
with his truffle after sniffing out the mushroom during a recent
training session.   TIFTON, Ga. -- Prized by chefs and foodies,
pecan grove truffles have long been the secret jewels of
Georgia's pecan orchards. However, new research and truffle
searching methods may soon bring the fungal delicacy to more
Georgia tables.  A type of mushroom, truffles aid in the
nutrition of pecan trees. They grow on the trees' roots and
collect nutrients. Just like their French cousins, truffles
found in Georgia are in high demand in the gourmet food
industry. Truffles can be added to pasta, lobster or even grits.
According to Tim Brenneman, a plant pathologist with the
University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental
Sciences, Tifton Campus, one pound of truffles can sell for
upwards of $300.   Recently, though, working dogs at Wynfield
Plantation in Albany were trained to locate truffles using their
keen sense of smell. The training is not unlik