Photon echo, photon-echo excitation, and "hole-burning" data recorded in the 800-990 nm region of Rhodobacter sphaeroides R26 and Rhodopseudomonas viridis reaction centers are reported. The primary process in these reaction centers, following excitation, was found to occur in approximately 25 fsec; the long-wavelength band of the primary electron donor (P) was largely homogeneously broadened. In accordance with our previous explanation of hole-burning and photon-echo measurements on Rb. sphaeroides [Meech, S. R., Hoff, A. J. & Wiersma, D. A. (1985) Chem. Phys. Lett. 121, 287-292], we interpret this as resulting from a dephasing of the excitation in P into a background of strongly coupled charge-transfer states. The previously reported picosecond lifetime of the excited P state is assigned to decay of these strongly mixed states. Further, a coupling between P and an adjacent bacteriochlorophyll was observed. The extent of this coupling and the role of charge-transfer states in the functioning of reaction centers is discussed.